The “formula” for the success of this service across many Local Authority areas in the UK has been the focus on the needs of young people. We receive feedback on our web site but also visit schools and talk to commissioners, so we know what young people want and what commissioners want.

For young people the important aspects of KOOTH.com are:

• anonymity – they are prepared to ask for help because they are in control; they don’t have to give contact details and can logout at any point.
• confidentiality – what they discuss with a counsellor is subject to the normal client-counsellor confidentiality rules
• different ways to get help – some users do not like the immediacy of chat, so they can use mail. Others don’t want to interact with a counsellor but can get information/advice from the magazine articles. Others like to compare notes with their peers in the pre-moderated support forums.
• it’s free

   

  For commissioners the advantages are:

• access to lots of information via the reports; many young people on KOOTH.com are “below the radar” and have not yet become known to other services
• very accessible by target user group – users can access help from their homes/schools libraries at times to suit them. We are open until 10pm unlike many other counselling services and being online we sidestep any issues with transport or premises which may apply to face to face services
• good value for money because counsellors are not wasting time if a young person “DNAs” (does not attend) – there are plenty of other young people to chat to in drop-in chat if a booked appointment fails to show, plus there are always mails to answer and posts to moderate
• local marketing by visiting schools/training; local news articles in the magazine; signposting/ referrals to local services if appropriate

Lincolnshire, Kirklees and Cornwall Councils have commissioned Xenzone to deliver their award winning counselling service KOOTH.com in their areas. We are delighted to be able to bring counselling and support to even more young people. Our goal is to break down the stigma around mental health and to provide top quality services in a way that suits each person’s individual circumstances

Training has begun in schools and youth settings across these counties and young people are being provided with contact details for the service. The good thing about this service is that any young person can access it without the need to be referred by a professional.

Aaron Sefi, Cornwall Locality Manager

Councillor Mrs Patricia Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Children’s Services in Lincolnshire said, “We are pleased to be piloting this service in Lincolnshire for a year in the first instance, which will help us to evaluate its effectiveness and how it is helping young people to overcome their problems. There can be a lot of pressure and strain on young people as they strive to develop and succeed in competition with their peers and this service has already been used successfully by many youngsters in other parts of the country.”

In Cornwall we are providing both online and face to face support for young people. The Locality Manager, Aaron Sefi, was brought up in Cornwall and has moved back there to help make this important new service a success.

KOOTH.com will now be operating in Blaenau Gwent, Cardiff, Cheshire East, Cheshire West & Chester, Cornwall, Dudley, Kirklees, Knowsley, Lincolnshire, Oldham, Powys, Warwickshire and Wirral.

As recognised leaders in the field of online counselling in the UK, award- winning Xenzone Limited was chosen to feature in an ITN, documentary-style film being shown at the recent NHS Alliance Conference. The film provides delegates with an insight into the effectiveness of online counselling, showing why it works for both commissioners and users.

The young people’s service, KOOTH.com is currently commissioned by 14 Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts. It offers FREE and confidential support and counselling and respects young people’s anonymity, thus providing an unparalleled service for the under 25′s who feel they have nowhere else to go for support.

KOOTH.com works closely with CAMHs services and social care too, offering the most vulnerable a quality out of hours service.

GPs BENEFIT FROM NEW E-THERAPY SERVICE

Xenzone has announced the launch of Qwell, an online adult counselling service designed to give GPs rapid access to the most appropriate patient support with a waiting time of just seven days.

Xenzone’s proven track record with its award-winning young people’s service, KOOTH.com, demonstrates that face-to-face counselling isn’t right for every patient suffering from mild to moderate mental health problems.

GPs spend around 30% of their time seeing patients with mental health issues and this figure is increasing year on year with many GPs feeling they are now facing a “mental health overload”, citing lack of necessary skills and limited access to support services.

Yet many are accountable for commissioning mental health services and will be targetted on improving health outcomes designed around patient needs.

Qwell (Qwellcounselling.com) is an online community where one-to-one therapy services are delivered by Xenzone’s professionally qualified team of therapists, counsellors and support workers. It offers users CBT sessions in “real time” with a therapist, minimising drop-out rates and GPs are provided with outcome scored, monthly reports to track patient progress.

Online counselling is just as effective as, and cheaper, than face-to-face alternatives – GPs only pay for the hours used. It’s popular, too; 50% of adult internet users already go online to seek advice on health issues.

XENZONE EXPANSION

Xenzone has recently won new contracts with Dudley and Lincolnshire and has been re-commissioned by Warwickshire and Knowsley. Xenzone is also working directly with schools in Kirklees and Surrey. Managing Director Elaine Bousfield comments:

“We’re delighted to be working with new health authorities and I believe the re-commissions speak for themselves.”