Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Helen McEntee has announced a new mental health plan for secondary school students to act as a "preventive measure".

Ms McEntee (FG) revealed to the Irish Sun that students will receive up to 300 hours of mental health classes to help students "maintain their own well-being".

"The Department of Education are going to be rolling out a new health and well-being programme.

“This means up to Junior Cert young people will have to do 300 hours of this particular class. We have divided it into three age groups — so from 0-12, 13-18 and 19-25.

“Obviously the zero to 12 will be looking at the primary school level and what it is we can do to help them maintain their own well-being but also so they can identify if they’re experiencing a problem," Ms McEntee told the Irish Sun.

The Department of Health were given €853m for mental health in the latest budget.

"It’s important young people know that while celebs like Kim Kardashian are great and all, they have personal trainers and stylists looking after them — and our young people need to be happy with who they are as people," Ms McEntee told the Irish Sun.

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