PHILADELPHIA, PA– The middle school students from Philadelphia School District now they have free online mental health help.

kooth, which works via a smartphone or other device, is not intended to replace face-to-face support at school or at home, officials said. students still have access to counselors, municipal behavioral health workers and other mental health professionals, although educators here say the number of workers is insufficient to meet the needs of students.

At the moment, 18,000 students in 139 schools from the district receive individual support and group services from school counselors. In addition, the district offers students free access to the Philly HopeLine, a hotline staffed by local mental health professionals.

kooth entered into Philadelphia in February, but the company has a 22 year history in the UK, where it is partnered with National Health Service to provide mental health and digital health services. Kooth signed a $3 million deal with Pennsylvania to service up to 30 districts statewide, however Philadelphia this is their largest US school system to date.

The state pays the bills $1.8 million from Philadelphia for Kooth service during the 2024-25 school year; eventually, he hopes to offer the service to all sixth through eighth graders as well.

Kooth, district officials said when announcing the platform to parents this year, “is a secure, confidential community where students can access career counseling, peer support, and essential self-help tools such as goal-setting resources, tips, and articles.” .” opinions and personal written experiences of colleagues and experts”.

Students who use kooth they can listen to podcasts about attention or video link tick tock about personal care. For students who choose counseling, all sessions are conducted via text, either on a walk-in basis or in scheduled sessions; no video options available. All of Kooth’s doctors were certified Pennsylvania master’s degree practitioners, authorities said.

In all districts in Pennsylvania where Kooth has been implemented, about 25% of eligible students utilize the platform.

Kooth officials say student data is confidential.