A specialist mental health service will be rolled out to support children and teenagers in Wiltshire.

The scheme, which was piloted in a number of colleges and schools in Swindon last year, will be rolled out across Wiltshire in 2020.

Nearly £2m will go towards putting Trailblazer mental health support teams in schools and colleges over the next three years.

Trailblazer teams will support mild to moderate mental health issues, such as exam stress, low mood and problems with friends, as well as host group sessions on subjects such as self-harm and anxiety.

The report said: “If intervention took place early on, in the right place, it could help stop these worries becoming much bigger problems.

“Children and young people are asking for earlier help and support, and in some areas we have higher than average rates of admission for self-harm.”

In 2017, one in nine young people aged five to 15 had a diagnosable mental health condition and teenagers with a mental health disorder are twice as likely to develop disorders into adulthood.

Lucy Baker, director of service delivery across Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) said: "We know there is some excellent support already available.

"The Trailblazer programme will build on that and provide more support earlier and where young people tell us that they want to recieve it -- in schools.

"It will help young people improve their emotional and mental health and get back on track."

Mental health is one of the three key areas BSW has highlighted for significant transformation between 2020-24.