Children and teenagers were taught about the importance of physical and mental health at a football stadium.

Pupils from schools across Haringey were given tours of White Hart Lane, home to Tottenham Football Club, as part of ‘wellbeing’ tours.

They were given a tour of the stadium, took part in activities such as boxing, team work exercises and goggles which simulated the feeling of drunkenness.

Dr Nick Barnes, a young people psychologist at Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust which helped organise the day, said that it is important that young people learn about mental health.

He said: “It’s essential really. Young people are exposed to a huge level of stress at school, at home and in their community, and they need to know how to look after themselves.”

The activities were based on the mental health ‘five-a-day’ – the five factors determined by doctors to have a great impact on mental wellbeing.

The children and teenagers were aged between 11 and 16, and came from Woodside Secondary, Park View School, the Octagon AP Academy, Footsteps Academy, Gladesmoor School and Fortismere School.

Among the stops on the tour was a talk by former Leyton Orient manager and current part-time Spurs coach Martin Ling, who left the game due to depression.

The Tour was also held a few days after a new study revealed a higher proportion of footballers suffer from mental health problems than the general population.

Dr Barnes said of Ling: “He gives a very honest account of his depression. He looks back on it and says it shouldn’t have happened, because he didn’t look after himself.

“It’s important for the children to see this in the world of professional football, and it is very important to tell people about it.”

Among the schools were Footsteps, a football and sports alternative provision academy, which teaches disaffected students their GCSEs, but with a sporting slant.

Academy leader Desmond McDonald said: “Stuff like this is extremely important. With the gangs around here, for these kids, they’re ruing their community and themselves.

“Learning this stuff around a healthy lifestyle and healthy living, it means that they can learn about the real world, and the reality of what they need to do to look after themselves.”

Footsteps volunteer, 17-year-old Turgay Uludag, said that he had been to events like this before and they had changed his attitude to healthy living and mental wellbeing.

He said: “This can have a huge impact on these kids, as they get a look at what the outside world is like, but at the same time it is very important that they are having fun.

“It’s an even bigger thing learning from an institution. When you come into a stadium, and you’re learning from professionals, it’s an amazing feeling.

“When I first came here, I met Ledley King, I was shocked and inspired. Hopefully the kids will be too, and it will teach them a healthy lifestyle.”