Published on:
07
September 2021
A new digital mental health service is now available for all 10 – 18 year olds in Clackmannanshire as part of the Mental Health and Wellbeing in Clacks transformation project.
The service, offered by Kooth Digital Health, offers a range of supports for young people ranging from magazine articles on aspects of mental health and wellbeing, through to instant, online communication with trained clinical staff, and it is hoped this will provide an important assistance to any young person struggling to manage their mental health.
The Council’s Educational Psychology team has chosen Kooth as a suitable digital service for this age group to compliment similar services already available for children and young people.
Kooth has a number of features popular with young people, and working with a national organisation allows support to be provided around the clock, every day of the year. While not everyone wants to access a digital service, these digital facilities are part of a continuum of supports that also include in-person intervention.
The new service goes live today (7 September) as part of a week of events to mark Youth Mental Health Day and World Suicide Prevention Day, all designed to start conversations around mental health across Clackmannanshire. Any young person aged 10 - 18 in Clackmannanshire can access the service by heading to Kooth.com.
Cllr Graham Lindsay, Spokesperson for Education said: "Looking after the health and wellbeing of our people is our top priority and it is even more critical at this time. The provision of this new and easily accessible support for our young people is a welcome part of the Mental Health and Wellbeing in Clacks initiative. I know that talking about mental health can sometimes be difficult, but it’s really important that we learn to speak more openly about this subject.
"Our young people are leading the way by being willing to discuss mental health, and the Kooth service is another way to help provide immediate access to support. More information on how to access information and support is available online https://sites.google.com/view/directory-of-mental-health-sup/MHWBinClackmannanshire ".
Lynne Green, Chief Clinical Officer at Kooth, added: "Kooth is a safe and confidential digital space where young people can go if they're struggling with something or just need someone to talk to. We want young people to know that it's ok to not be ok, and it's good to ask for support if, and when, you need it.
"Young people can contact our friendly and qualified counsellors and emotional wellbeing practitioners with whatever is on their mind, no matter the issue. Or, they may prefer to join our non-judgemental and inclusive peer-to-peer community and chat online with other young people going through similar issues. Asking for help can be hard, but I would encourage anyone who is feeling overwhelmed to contact us so we can do our best to help."
A digital webinar to learn more about the range of digital mental health services available in Clackmannanshire is being offered for parents/carers and those working with children and young people. The event takes place on Thursday 9th September at 10.30am and free tickets can be ordered via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/digital-mental-health-services-in-clackmannanshire-tickets-166150732313. If you are unable to attend at this time, a link to a recorded version can be accessed by emailing psychological@clacks.gov.uk.
Further sources of information and support regarding mental health and wellbeing can also be found at https://sites.google.com/view/directory-of-mental-health-sup/MHWBinClackmannanshire.