AN online counselling and emotional wellbeing service is available every day in Warrington throughout the Christmas break giving children and young people access to free mental health and wellbeing support outside of term time.

The XenZone’s service called Kooth has been commissioned in 95 Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) areas giving children and young people access to self-help materials, peer-to-peer support, moderated forums and messaging from any connect device.

Over the past year, more than 90,000 young people logged in to Kooth with 72% accessing the service outside traditional opening hours.

The service is anonymous and available to users 24-hours a day.

Dr Lynne Green, Clinical Director for XenZone, said, "We know that around one in eight children are likely to have a mental health problem at any one time; the number experiencing poor emotional health and wellbeing is no doubt much higher.

"For these children, Christmas may not be the happy and relaxing time it is for others.

"At Kooth, we recognise that the need for support does not stop over the Christmas period. For some, that need is intensified.

"We are 100% committed to ensuring our services remain accessible and responsive because no child or young person should be without the support they need."

Kooth, accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), offers children and young people online counselling from 12pm until 10pm on weekdays and from 6pm until 10pm on weekends.

Christmas counselling hours are slightly different to reflect demand:

  • Monday 24th December, Christmas Eve: 12pm – 8pm
  • Tuesday 25th December, Christmas Day: 4pm – 8pm
  • Wednesday 26th December, Boxing Day: 4pm – 8pm
  • Monday 31st December, New Year’s Eve: 4pm – 8pm
  • Tuesday 1st January, New Year's Day: 4pm – 8pm