EMERGING emotional problems in children and adolescents will be tackled by a mental health initiative in schools across the Epping Forest district from September.

Professionals involved in young people's wellbeing from teachers and school nurses to GPs and youth club workers will have access to information and training on mental health awareness from the Epping Forest Mental Health Promotion Group.

The group, led by Epping Forest Primary Care Trust, will also hold workshops on emotional wellbeing and mental health issues in targeted secondary schools across the district.

The Government hopes these preventative measures will encourage childcare agencies to work together more and ensure early warning signs are not missed.

A report from the Essex Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership states: "Too many children fail to achieve their potential, become involved in crime, early unwanted pregnancies, substance misuse or under-achievement because we fail to spot the emerging risks. We need to intervene early enough to co-ordinate the support necessary."

A special mental health worker will provide early intervention, assessment and treatment for a whole host of emerging emotional problems, such as depression, eating disorders, exam stress, family break-ups and self-harming.

Epping Forest's mental health worker Brenda Kirley said: "The Government sees this new role as a national driver and has committed itself to a ten per cent year-on-year increase for child and adolescent mental health services until 2006."

Targeted schools will be selecting children and their guardians who they feel would most benefit from therapeutic work as part of this new scheme.

The mental health promotion group is advising parents to be alert to "ongoing, significant changes in their child's mood and behaviour, which impairs their normal daily functioning" and seek advice from their GP if concerns continue.

Information specifically for young people is available at www.readthesigns.org