Discover Kooth: support for local young people

NHS Western Isles has partnered with Kooth to provide young people aged 11-25 years access to free online counselling and wellbeing support from a professional team of qualified counsellors.

Available from any device at www.kooth.com, young people are assured an anonymous, safe and secure means of accessing support. In addition, the online platform also hosts a Kooth magazine, discussion boards, mini self-care activities and an online journal – all to help support better emotional and mental health and wellbeing for young people living within the Western Isles.

The online service offers direct text chat with qualified counsellors 365 days of the year from 12 noon-10pm on weekdays, and 6pm-10pm at weekends. In addition, the chat forums are moderated before comments are posted.

Joan Tilley, NHS Western Isles Child & Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHs) Manager, said “We are delighted that Kooth has been commissioned by NHS Western Isles as a digital mental health and emotional wellbeing service for young people across the area.

“Since early 2022 we have been helping to raise awareness of Kooth, in order to ensure as many young people as possible know that it is available to them for if and when they may wish to access dedicated support.”

During this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week held in February, the local CAMHs team delivered virtual ‘Discover Kooth’ sessions to each Western Isles secondary school during assembly time. This enabled staff to explain in detail the different features on the Kooth platform, as well as how to sign-up for future use. A number of primary schools have also received ‘P7 Transition to Secondary’ workshops, and this is expected to be rolled out to remaining schools in future. Plans are also underway to promote Kooth for the new intake of Secondary 1 pupils within all secondary schools.

A series of staff information sessions have been delivered to a number of groups and services, including Stornoway Rugby Club, Skills and Training teams (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) and Carloway Community Association, as well as connecting with community members via local social media. Further sessions are also planned to be held with Western Isles Foyer and Pointers Drop-in Centre staff.

More recently, Kooth hosted an online local parents and carers information session, where 16 parents/carers attended virtually. It is hoped to host further online sessions for parents/carers in future.

Joan added, “To date, we have received 568 log-ins from local young people, with feedback stating that 100% who have used Kooth, would recommend it to a friend.”

An online ‘Discover Kooth in Western Isles: Information for all’ session is being held on 26th September from 4pm-5pm and for further details or to register, please visit: https://bit.ly/3ctcb7P

Additionally, a short information video ‘Introduction to Kooth (with subtitles’ can be viewed at: https://bit.ly/3RkNY2r

For further information, or if you are interested in attending one of the forthcoming Kooth information sessions, please email kforsyth@kooth.com