More than half of parents in England have never brought up the subject of stress, anxiety or depression with their offspring, a survey has suggested.

Of the 1,100 parents polled as part of a campaign backed by the Department of Health, 20 per cent said they did not know how to address the issue.

The results have been released by the charity-run programme Time to Change, which aims to reduce the stigma of mental health amongst teenagers.

One in 10 young people will experience a mental health problem – which equates to three students in an average classroom.

But the new survey, of parents to children aged between six and 18, reveals that many mums and dads say they hadn’t broached the topic as they didn’t feel it was something that needed to be discussed.

Sue Baker, the director of Time to Change, said: “This has to be the generation for change. Mental health problems are a common experience for three children in every classroom.

“Our research has shown that talking about mental health is still seen as too awkward for many parents and young people and we need to change that in the home, at school, on social media and in wider social circles.”

As a result of the survey, teachers are to receive extra training on helping pupils with mental health problems, predominantly in secondary schools.

And as part of the campaign, young people who have had mental health problems will be able to share their experience by delivering education sessions in schools.

The Time to Change campaign has received £660,000 from the Department of Health.

Some of this money has gone towards creating two new adverts aimed at reaching 14-18-year-olds and their parents.

The first calls on young people to think twice about judging a friend or classmate who has a mental health problem, while the second encourages parents to be ready to have a conversation about mental health with their child.