The Cabinet Office has again backed BeatBullying, putting £500,000 behind its online youth mental health advice service MindFull to help expand the service.

MindFull was launched in July by Beatbullying, which itself received a £1.3m grant from the Cabinet Office last year for its cyber-mentors programme. This £500,000 for MindFull is designated to help the charity expand its online advice services for 11 to 17-year-olds, to reach 18 to 25-year-olds also.

It will also fund improvements to the website and the training of young peer mentors.

MindFull was launched following a YouGov survey of young people which uncovered a desire for an online advice service addressing youth mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. BeatBullying itself has also received support from government this year, winning a £1.5m grant from the Department of Education as part of its National Prospectus grant.

BeatBullying and MindFull founder Emma-Jane Cross said the new funding was “critical” and timely, being announced as it has been on World Mental Health Day.

“In the three months since we launched the charity, many young people who are over 18 have told us they would benefit from a site like MindFull. Now thanks to the help of the Cabinet Office, we can extend our vital service to reach 18 to 25-year-olds who are at breaking point.”

Minister for civil society Nick Hurd praised BeatBullying’s track record and said the government was very pleased to be supporting MindFull’s expansion. “BeatBullying has a remarkable record in showing how training and mobilising volunteers around a cause can address problems even as devastating as mental health,” he said.

“By creating such a comprehensive service online, where young people so much time and feel comfortable communicating, I’m sure they will be able to reach even more of those in need of support.”