Kooth

What Is Kooth?

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.

💬 What Does Kooth Offer?

Kooth provides a range of features that users can access immediately after signing up—all completely free:

1. Live Counselling Support

• 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.

2. Self-Help Resources

• 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.

3. Online Journal

• 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.

4. Goal Setting Tools

• 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.

5. Moderated Discussion Forums

• 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.

6. Kooth Community

• 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.

🧠 Who Is It For?

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

🔐 Anonymity, Safety & Safeguarding

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.

🆓 How Much Does It Cost?

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.

📱 How Do You Access Kooth?

• 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.

🧑‍⚕️ Who Are the Kooth Counsellors?

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.

💡 Why Is Kooth Important?

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.

🏆 Recognitions & Partnerships

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

💬 Testimonials

“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

🔚 In Summary

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.