Among reports of a mental health crisis brought on by the pandemic, students at schools around South West London have been trained to deliver their own mental health programme. With exam cancellations and school closures, a sense of togetherness and structure pulled from under their feet, students' mental health is facing its own pandemic.

m-LAH is a government-funded talking initiative that helps motivate secondary school students to lead healthier lifestyles. m-LAH is different to other mental health programmes: it is delivered and facilitated by the students themselves. m-LAH has been designed to be simple, so that year 10s and above can easily learn how to become m-LAH facilitators. In just a matter of weeks, students can learn the skills needed to lead m-LAH meetings.

Training students to be facilitators unleashes talent that can be used throughout the school. Mental health programmes are often hampered by lack of resource, but m-LAH unlocks the talent within schools.

Because m-LAH is for peers by peers, students become the solution to each other's mental health challenges.

m-LAH (Motivation for Learning and Health) is based on a simple insight: most students know what a healthy lifestyle looks like, it is not lack of knowledge that prevents students enacting healthy lifestyles, it is lack of motivation. m-LAH is a talking programme that focuses on motivation.

m-LAH takes inspiration from motivational and behaviour change programmes such as parenting classes, dieting groups and addiction support groups. These motivational programmes are well-established, and evidence based. At the heart of all these motivational programmes is honest conversation amongst peers. m-LAH is honest conversation among peers.

Sixth-formers at Richmond Park Academy (Academies Enterprise Trust School) in East Sheen have learnt to become m-LAH facilitators.

"Richmond Park Academy is pioneering this approach to personal development. The initial training our sixth form facilitators receive is pivotal in developing their leadership and communication skills. This is the perfect opportunity for students to motivate each other and offer peer support towards reaching their personal goals.

The programme at RPA is designed to help students to do the stuff they want to do. Students who join our 'Working on You' programme have personal goals that they want to achieve and want a group support mechanism to help! It is simple in structure and can be really powerful in terms of personal development.

Students come to the programme with a wide range of goals; some want to build in three runs a week, others want to dedicate time to revise or to spend more time with their family away from their screens. They've had some interesting discussions about how achievable some of these targets are, and are great at holding each other accountable."

m-LAH was started with a government grant during the first lockdown and now m-LAH resources are currently free, ready to be downloaded at m-LAH.org

m-LAH founder, Hugh Abbott, said: "If you have students struggling, please get in touch. m-LAH is a powerful tool that can help."

Quotes from m-LAH founder, Hugh Abbott

â— "Talking programmes to improve mood and motivation are key to student wellbeing."

â— "Students leading their own mental health programme is the best way to