A new online service is now available to all adults in Kent Medway, giving people aged 18-years-old and over increased access to mental health support.
Qwell provides adults with professional support for all mental health issues seven-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year.
Whether feeling low, grieving the loss of a loved one, going through family and relationship issues and/or feeling anxious, help is there for you through Qwell.
By visiting www.qwell.io, adults in Kent and Medway can:
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get anonymous expert advice from a team of friendly practitioners via a one-to-one text-based chat session (available from 12noon to 10pm on weekdays, and from 6 to 10pm at the weekend)
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use self-help tools to set goals, document feelings and practise self-care strategies
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access a library of resources for boosting mental wellbeing and coping with life’s challenges
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talk to Qwell’s community through forums and connect with others who may feel the same way
NHS Kent and Medway’s Chief Medical Officer Kate Langford said:
“It’s not always easy for people to reach out and ask for the mental health support they need, so we want to make sure every adult in Kent and Medway has easy access to anonymised support they can sign themselves up for within minutes. “Qwell will be integral in providing all year-round support – no problem is ever too small. It will help empower people to prioritise their mental health and talk about what is bothering them, hopefully preventing the need for people to seek urgent help.”
No referral needed Qwell doesn’t have waiting lists or criteria to meet to use its services. You do not need a referral from a medical professional.
Once you have registered via www.qwell.io, support is available through any internet- connected device, such as a smartphone, tablet or computer.
As a confidential and accessible digital offering, Qwell has been designed to work alongside other established and existing NHS, council and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) services.
Qwell is operated by Kooth, which also provides the Kooth children and young people’s digital mental wellbeing support platform in Kent and Medway.
Kooth’s Chief Clinical Officer, Dr Lynne Green, said:
"There may not be a ‘one-size-fits-all approach’ to providing care, but offering a choice of personalised mental health services across Kent and Medway is essential. “Qwell is a clinically robust service, with a team of experienced practitioners and professional counsellors that can provide support at a range of levels. No matter the issue or situation, it’s here to help.”
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Notes for editors
About NHS Kent and Medway NHS Kent and Medway is the NHS organisation that plans and buys healthcare services to meet the needs of our population. Read more on our website.
About Kooth: Kooth’s mission is to provide accessible and safe spaces for everyone to achieve better mental health. The platform is clinically robust and accredited to provide a range of therapeutic support and interventions.
Services are:
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Kooth: for children and young people
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Qwell: similar to Kooth but for adults
Kooth is a fully safeguarded and pre-moderated community with a library of peer and professional created content, alongside access to experienced online counsellors. There is no support criteria to meet and no waiting lists. Kooth is the only digital mental health provider to hold a UK-wide accreditation from the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.