A DIGITAL mental health and wellbeing platform is set to provide digital counselling to Hampshire's children.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System (ICS) has announced that it has commissioned Kooth to provide digital counselling and support to children and young people aged between 11 and 25 years old.

The platform is said to provide a safe and confidential means for young people to access online support from a team of qualified counsellors and is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

This comes after concerns were raised by GPs that young people didn’t meet the thresholds for specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health services, yet still needed additional support.

Now, users will be able to receive one-on-one, anonymous counselling sessions with fully trained and qualified counsellors and emotional wellbeing practitioners.

Children and young people will also have access to peer-to-peer support through pre-moderated discussion forums and can read and contribute to Kooth’s mental health and wellbeing magazine.

Dr Clare Harris, GP for Child Safeguarding Hampshire CCGs, said: “As a GP in Hampshire, I'm delighted patients aged 11-25 years can now access Kooth.

"The mental health needs of children and young people have increased significantly over recent years, and the pandemic has exacerbated this. It's great to have such a positive resource to support our patients improve their mental health and wellbeing.”

Dr Lynne Green, Chief Clinical Officer at Kooth added: "The pandemic has accelerated the need for additional support services for our young people. It is imperative that children get help at an early stage before their needs escalate, as well as have somewhere to turn to in times of struggle."