A UNIQUE life-skills programme tackling mental health and wellbeing will be aired on the BBC on Friday featuring a Wirral college. 

‘Health: Truth or Scare’ will highlight Birkenhead Sixth Form College’s ‘BePART’ scheme, which stands for being Positive, Ambitious, Resilient and Thoughtful.

Each new student at Birkenhead Sixth Form College goes through the six-week ‘BePART’ programme as part of their pastoral support, this includes sessions on the importance of sleep and diet and relaxation techniques.

The college's psychology teacher Roy Owen devised the programme with help from his colleagues and has received support from Birkenhead MP Frank Field.

Mr Field said:“I’ve not seen anything like it before; it’s a real innovation.

“It’s a project that’s got legs and one that should be pursued. It’s brilliant that it’s actually started here in this College.

"Roy’s made a real case about the ‘size of the market’, to use that term, and that it’s actually growing.”

Students at the college have been reporting of measurable benefits after taking part in the programme.

Eleanor Adams, 17, said: “I’ve found it really therapeutic.

"It’s helped me with stress levels and eating habits – I’m much more aware of what I consume.

"I’ve struggled with anxiety before, especially around exam time, but this has made me take a step back and assess what I’m doing which makes things a lot easier and calmer.”

“It’s been amazing to discover that some people my age are only getting four hours sleep a night or less, and not looking after themselves.

"Eating more healthily and being more aware of the importance of sleep has meant that I’ve gone from getting six hours sleep a night to eight.

“This kind of programme is so important. You may have the ability to get good grades but you’re never going to achieve that if you’re burnt out.”

Roy added: “BePART is truly unique and only in its infancy, but we hope that people can recognise its importance in tackling an issue like mental health and wellbeing, that is only becoming more prevalent amongst young people.

"We’re putting ourselves at the forefront of that battle by actively addressing the problems and using carefully selected psychological methods to help combat those issues at the source, rather than leaving teenagers to fight them alone.”

‘Health: Truth or Scare’ is on BBC One at 9:15am on Friday, April 28.