Kooth launches new service across all boroughs in North West London to offer digital mental health support to young people

Kooth North West London service will ensure a single, consistent service offer for all boroughs in North West London. By extending its commissioning of Kooth, The North West London Collaborative is ensuring that all children and young adults in the area have a safe and confidential way to access timely emotional wellbeing and early intervention mental health support.

The pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of children and young adults in the UK, increasing the demand for digital mental health services. The recently published Kooth Pulse Report 2021 unearthed the effects COVID-19 has posed on society, giving a clearer picture of the issues that will need to be addressed now, and in the years ahead. Key findings from the study, include:

• Kooth platform usage has increased by 42% amongst children and young people.
• For our under-18 population who have presented with any issues, Kooth has seen a +39% increase in those presenting with suicidal thoughts and a +27% increase in those presenting with self-harm.
• In 2020, Kooth handled +51% young people presenting with eating difficulties.
• +54% increase in suicidal thoughts for 10-13 year olds
• For Black, Asian and Non-White young people, there was a +83% increase in sleep difficulties, a +71% increase in school/college issues and a +25% increase in feelings of sadness.

Accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), Kooth offers children and young people access to a full spectrum of digital mental health services. This includes peer-to-peer support for users via pre-moderated discussions and 24/7 access to curated self-help content, including a magazine with wellbeing articles, personal experiences and tips from other young adults and the Kooth team.

Young people can also drop-in or book live online ‘chats’ with experienced counsellors. The sessions are available 365 days a year, from midday until 10pm on weekdays and from 6pm until 10pm at the weekend and bank holidays.

Access is free of the typical barriers to support: no waiting lists, no thresholds, no cost and complete anonymity. The digital setting also helps to reduce the stigma traditionally associated with accessing mental health services. Kooth is available on desktop, mobile and tablet devices.