CHILDREN from a Bury school have spoken out about times when they have had to be brave for a BBC Radio 1 feature.

Presenter Katie Thistleton visited pupils from Philips High School, in Whitefield, to speak with them about mental health.

Katie, who is an ambassador for Young Minds and mental health charity Place2Be, interviewed pupils and staff about bravery, with their accounts being recorded for a programme.

The visit coincided with Children’s Mental Health Week, organised by Place2Be, which provides mental health counselling support and training in schools.

Katie arrived with her producers Jordan Hemingway and Ben Cartwright. They spoke with pupils about what bravery means to them, and about times when they have had to be brave.

They interviewed Tina Owen, headteacher at Philips High, and Gail Samuels, project manager at Place 2Be, about the types of issues young people face and how they show bravery by speaking up and asking for help.

Following the meeting and audio recording, the Higher Lane school received the following email from Katie and Jordan at BBC Radio 1.

Katie said: “I can’t express how amazing the kids were. I’ve never heard young people speak so honestly and intelligently about mental health. They are such a gorgeous bunch.

“Everything they said was brilliant and it’s going to be a tough job for Jordan and Ben to cut it down to a couple of minutes! They did you proud, spoke so brilliantly about Place2be and it’s clearly been amazing for them.”

Jordan said: “The students we spoke to were incredible and spoke so intelligently about young people’s mental health. The way they talk about how much of an amazing help Place2Be has been as well. It’s going to make an incredible package. Tina and Gail said some amazing things too which we’ll be including in the show on Sunday. Really appreciate all your hard work to make this happen. Please pass on our thanks (once again) to the school and students for making Katie, Ben and myself so welcome."

The interviews were broadcast on BBC Radio 1’s Life Hacks Programme on Sunday, February 2 at 4pm.

Philips High School said they pride themselves on supporting children's mental health every day of the year. Place2Be counsellors are based at the school two to three days per week to support pupils, staff and parents, with many pupils receiving support.

Pastoral staff have regular training to help them support others.

The school also carries out emotional wellbeing work throughout the year to educate pupils about what mental health and emotional wellbeing is, how to recognise signs, how to access support as well as how they can support others.

A school representative said: "It was a great honour for pupils at Philips High to have the opportunity to voice their opinions to so many people on Radio 1."