Spotlight: Kooth

I recently spoke to Nadia from Kooth. She was able to tell me about the fantastic services that they offer as well as how young people can access support.

What is KOOTH?

Kooth is a free, safe, and anonymous online mental health and wellbeing service for young people which has been up and running since 2001. They offer one-to-one support through a text-based chat as well as peer support, where young people share their experiences. There is no space for online harassment or bullying on these discussions due to moderation – which means it’s read and reviewed by a mental health professional before it’s put on the platform.

Who is it for?

The service is free for anyone in Leeds between the ages of 10-18.

How can I access the service?

You can access Kooth at any time to request a chat with a mental health professional, visit discussion forums, and engage with therapeutic content including articles, activities, videos, podcasts, and more. To access any of these services, simply head on to https://www.kooth.com/ to create a free account and you can use it without worrying about referrals or a waiting list.

Is it confidential?

Kooth is anonymous and confidential. There is no personal information required to create an account, removing worries about stigma and judgement. Information will only be requested and shared if there is a specific safety concern. In these cases, strict safeguarding protocols are followed.

Diversity at Kooth

The Kooth team is very diverse and therefore able to cater to many different children’s needs. for example they offer Muslim and LGBTQ2+ workshops which are free and available for anyone.

Nadia works on improving engagement at Kooth through mental wellness assemblies at schools; she also works with communities like CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health service) and GP surgeries to raise awareness in Leeds.