AN APP aimed at getting students to think more about their mental health and wellbeing has been recognised at an awards ceremony.

The BHCS TeenMind app, launched by Brighton Hill Community School, came out on top at the Bett Awards in the Impact Award category.

New for this year’s awards, the prize recognised schools to have made a difference to its students’ education.

The app was designed in collaboration with Gaia Technologies, along with staff and students at the secondary school, and aims to encourage young people as a whole to take control of their mental wellbeing and help develop their emotional intelligence and resilience.

The app scheme, led by head of mental health and wellbeing at the school Clare Roberts, was praised for its ability to give simple but effective definitions, advice and information on where to get help in the school.

Mrs Roberts said: “Winning this award is a wonderful endorsement that building a culture which emphasises the importance of mental health and wellbeing is not separate to teaching and learning but is at the heart of creating positive and effective learning environments.

“This project was able to happen because as a teacher I was allowed to ‘take a risk’; be creative; think cross-curricular and experiment with Edtech.”

BHCS Teenmind is also the accumulation of collaborative work with media students and mental wellbeing ambassadors.

Headteacher at Brighton Hill, Chris Edwards, said: “It’s an incredible honour for Brighton Hill Community School to be the only school nationally to win a prestigious BETT award.

“We take provision for mental health and wellbeing very seriously and we are delighted to be recognised in this way.

“I’ve always said that we have the best students and staff in the country and it’s fantastic that we now have external verification.”