A new online counselling service for your people has been commissioned to help Barnet’s youths.

Barnet Council and Barnet Clinical Commissioning Group (CGG) are commissioning XenZone to give children and young people access to mental health counsellors through their online service, Kooth, which can provide early help for those with mental health issues and reduce the stigma associated with finding help.

The system is aimed for young people aged 11 – 25 and gives them the ability to book in drop-in chats online with counsellors, psychotherapists and wellbeing practitioners through the Kooth app or website.

Dr Charlotte Benjamin, Barnet CCG’s clinical lead for Mental Health, said: “We have listened to Barnet’s young people and are excited to be able to offer this innovative online service. “Our aim is to make our mental health support services as accessible to children and young people as possible.“Whether they ask for digital or face-to-face counselling or whether they need specialist support, we will ensure they get the right help at the right time.”

Kooth will work alongside existing services and ease the strain on other services, including children’s services, social care and voluntary organisations.

The team from XenZone will also go into secondary schools and colleges to raise awareness of the service.