What You Should Know:
– Kooth Digital Health, a platform for youth mental health and well-being, has partnered with Aetna Better Health® of Illinois to provide free mental health resources to thousands of teens and young people in the state. This one-year collaboration aims to address the critical need for accessible mental health care for Illinois youth.
– The partnership builds on Kooth’s successful track record. Over 17 million people worldwide currently have access to Kooth’s platform, with programs supporting approximately 100,000 students in Pennsylvania and over 6 million young people in California through Soluna, a state-funded initiative.
The Need for Accessible Mental Health Resources
According to a National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) report, a staggering 61.8% of Illinois teens (aged 12-17) with depression receive no treatment. This lack of access to care can have severe consequences, with depressed high school students being twiceas likely to drop out and a significant portion of youth in the justice system having a mental health condition.
Kooth: Empowering Teens with Confidential Support
The Kooth platform offers a safe and confidential space for young people to access a variety of mental health resources, including:
- Self-guided tools: Evidence-based therapeutic content like mood tracking, breathing exercises, journaling prompts, educational podcasts and videos.
- Peer support: Safe, moderated online communities where teens can connect with their peers and share experiences.
- Professional support: Access to Illinois-licensed clinicians through drop-in chats or ongoing counseling sessions.
“Aetna is committed to pursuing innovative interventions to surround our members with health care solutions to build healthier populations across our state,” said Rushil Desai, CEO of Aetna Better Health of Illinois. “Our schools are Ground Zero of the mental health crises facing our children and teenagers each day. By partnering with Kooth, we are providing a transformational service to our youngest members delivering real-time, digital support for those facing complex issues. Our goal is to support them before a crisis emerges.”
