Secondary school pupils in Scotland are to be given access to professional counselling services.
Youngsters will be able to access a counsellor, if they require to do so, from September next year.
The Scottish Government announced the move on Tuesday after an agreement was reached with local authority umbrella body Cosla to allocate £60 million worth of funding for the programme over the next four years.
It is expected to help build or expand counselling services for children and young people across the country.
School counsellors will help support young people's emotional, behavioural and mental health , with pupils having access to services during school holidays.
Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey said the action is a "significant step".
"Children and young people can face many issues growing up and must have the right support available at the right time," she said.
"Providing every secondary school with access to at least one counsellor by next year is a significant step forward in our package of measures to improve the mental health support available for children and young people."
The Scottish Government has said counselling services currently delivered by qualified and registered counsellors through Pupil Equity or Scottish Attainment funding will continue.
It is hoped the move will allow local authorities to reallocate such funds to other priorities as part of efforts to close the attainment gap.
