Kooth offers free, safe, and anonymous mental health support for young people. Access live chats with counsellors, moderated forums, self-help resources, journals, and goal-setting tools. No referrals needed; just sign up online and get support 365 days a year, whenever you need it.
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Kooth.com is a free, safe, and anonymous online mental health and emotional wellbeing platform designed to support children, young people, and in some areas, adults. Available 365 days a year, Kooth offers a welcoming space for users to access digital mental health support without stigma, judgment, or long waiting times.
Commissioned by the NHS, local authorities, and charities across the UK, Kooth is part of a growing movement to make mental health services more accessible, especially for those who may feel uncomfortable seeking help through traditional pathways.
Kooth provides a range of features that users can access immediately after signing up—all completely free:
Users can speak directly with qualified counsellors or emotional wellbeing practitioners via live chat.
Counselling is available from 12pm to 10pm on weekdays, and 6pm to 10pm on weekends, every day of the year.
All conversations are confidential and do not require a referral or GP involvement.
A wide collection of evidence-based articles, personal stories, and wellbeing content written by professionals and peer contributors.
Topics range from anxiety and exam stress to identity, relationships, and grief.
A private digital journal allows users to write down their thoughts, track their feelings, and reflect on daily emotions or milestones.
Users can review past entries to gain perspective or share with a counsellor if they wish.
Kooth helps users set and manage personal goals, from managing sleep to building confidence.
These tools promote self-awareness and self-care habits, making progress feel visible and achievable.
Safe, moderated forums where users can talk with others facing similar challenges or feelings.
All posts are checked by Kooth’s moderation team to ensure respectful, age-appropriate, and safe discussions.
A welcoming peer-support community that emphasizes connection, understanding, and encouragement.
The platform allows users to comment, like, or share advice within the community anonymously.
Kooth is primarily designed for:
Children and young people aged 10–25 in areas where the service is commissioned.
Adults (via Kooth’s sister platform, Qwell.io) in some regions, including carers, teachers, and frontline workers.
The service is tailored to meet the needs of individuals who:
Prefer to remain anonymous
Are on waiting lists for face-to-face therapy
Are not ready or willing to speak to someone in person
Want self-guided or on-demand support
Need help outside of traditional working hours
One of Kooth’s core strengths is the emphasis on privacy, anonymity, and safety:
No real names are required when creating an account.
Users remain anonymous, using screen names of their choice.
Counsellors are trained to provide emotional support while maintaining strict safeguarding protocols.
If a user is at serious risk, the Kooth team can take appropriate steps while still respecting confidentiality where possible.
All community interactions (forums, comments, etc.) are pre-moderated to ensure safe, respectful communication.
Kooth is completely free to the end user.
The service is funded by NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), local authorities, schools, and other public bodies. This funding ensures that:
There are no costs, hidden fees, or subscriptions.
Users can access all features without payment.
Services are accessible even to those who may face financial or social barriers to mental health care.
Accessible online 24/7 at www.kooth.com
Compatible with desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
No downloads or app installs required.
To sign up, users provide:
An anonymous username
Their year of birth
Their gender identity
Their location (to ensure the service is available in their area)
Sign-up takes just a couple of minutes.
All Kooth counsellors and wellbeing practitioners are:
Fully trained and qualified in counselling, mental health, or wellbeing support.
Experienced in working with young people and the unique challenges they face.
Supported by clinical supervisors and a professional mental health team.
Bound by ethical codes and trained in safeguarding, cultural sensitivity, and trauma-informed practice.
The demand for accessible mental health services continues to grow—particularly among young people. Kooth fills a vital gap in current mental health provision by:
Offering immediate, stigma-free support
Reducing pressure on GP and CAMHS referrals
Providing a blended approach to support (live chat + self-help)
Encouraging early intervention, which can prevent more serious issues later
By being flexible, anonymous, and always available, Kooth removes many of the common barriers to getting help.
Kooth is:
NHS-approved and Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered
Part of The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
Featured in national and local mental health strategies
Used by schools, universities, and councils across the UK
A trusted provider in over 100 local authorities
“Kooth gave me someone to talk to when I felt like no one else understood.” — 16-year-old user
“Our students know there’s a safe space they can access, even after school hours.” — Secondary School Pastoral Lead
“It helped me realise I wasn’t alone. The forums and articles were so relatable.” — Young adult user
Kooth is a free, safe, and welcoming online space where young people and adults (in some areas) can receive emotional support, counselling, and access to resources without judgment or cost. Whether someone wants to chat with a counsellor, read about mental health, or simply write in a journal, Kooth offers a flexible and supportive service designed around the user's needs—anytime, anywhere.
Sign up to Kooth.com in minutes: it's free, anonymous, and gives instant mental health support.
No referral needed – Anyone in eligible age groups can join without a GP or school referral.
Available 365 days a year – Counsellors are online every day, including evenings and weekends.
Safe and moderated – Forums are monitored to keep things respectful and supportive.
Digital tools included – You get journals, goal-setting tools, and self-help content.
Age-specific access – Typically for ages 10–25 (for Kooth); adults can access Qwell, a sister platform.
Nobody had to know, and it’s anonymous. It's a great way of getting your feelings out there and getting the support you need right away—for free!
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