IT was both refreshing and heartening to find out this week that Hexham had been chosen to be part of a pilot scheme aimed at improving mental health support for children.

The scheme, which is set to be launched today with an event at Hexham Mart, will focus on having support teams in schools and reducing waiting times – something which will be music to the ears of many parents across west Northumberland.

Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group, which is one of the 12 CCGs to be awarded funding for the pilot, has said its aim is to have all of the county’s mental health services able to see children and young people within four weeks of referral by December this year, thanks to earlier intervention.

The conversation about the importance of caring for our mental health and wellbeing, and the correlation between mental health and physical health, has been brought to the fore in recent years – not least by the high profile campaign led by members of the Royal Family.

Through the Heads Together campaign, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry, continue to work to highlight the need for people to feel comfortable with their everyday mental health.

Crucially this, and many other national campaigns, are beginning to break down barriers to help ensure that stigma no longer prevents people getting the help they need.

While there is clearly still much more work to be done in prioritising and investing in mental health awareness and care, Hexham’s involvement in this pilot will be welcomed by many, and is a step in the right direction for those living in the district.

We hope this early intervention and education helps to make a big impact for the benefit of local young people, and look forward to following the results and outcomes through the pages of the Hexham Courant.