PUPILS are being given extra support after a school signed up to a service to help with mental health.

Maltings Academy is using an online service to give its youngsters an extra way of seeking counselling.

Kooth, which is free and anonymous, offers counsellors, articles written by young people and live moderated forums.

Carrie Hicks, the head of Year 11, said: "We have seen a huge increase in the need for children to have an outlet of some description in recent years.

"In school, we hold lots of assemblies looking at mental health issues, all tutors have packs to help them and there are lots of conversations going on in tutor time to make sure children are aware of what they can do to get the help they need.

"We have seven trained mental health first aiders and are creating a mental health area with posters and lots of guidance and advice for students.

"Kooth gives young people access to a qualified counsellor.

"As it is all online, it also gives them an opportunity to communicate in a way they are used to - it can take six to eight weeks to get an initial appointment to see a counsellor.

"With Kooth, the longest they will wait to speak with someone is 20 minutes and they can talk to someone up until 10pm and can email any time over the weekend."