Kooth agrees new $2.6m US contract

Digital mental health provider Kooth has agreed a new $2.6m contract to deliver mental health services for up to 100,000 students in the US.

The one-year deal with an as yet undisclosed US state, will enable students aged 13-18 to access Kooth’s Soluna platform. This includes online behavioural health education resources, a moderated peer community and chat-based counselling sessions with state-licensed behavioural health professionals. The rollout will be managed through Kooth’s existing workforce alongside newly hired in-state counsellors.

Kooth said the contract gives it a population-wide presence in the state and provides a basis for further advocacy and partnership activity. The company, which expanded its US presence with the acquisition of digital health company Kismet Health at the end of last year, said it may seek additional funding from other partners to support further targeted services under its ‘state alliance model’, in line with its ongoing strategy.

The latest contract means Kooth is now providing services in three US states, including California and New Jersey, where its existing contract was recently renewed.

Kooth CEO Kate Newhouse (pictured) said: ‘We are delighted to announce that we have signed a contract with a new US State to deliver vital digital mental health provision to young people. This win is indicative of the strength of both our offering and our proven track record of delivery, as well as the clear need across the US for additional mental health support in an accessible way. We are proud to be able to deliver safe and effective behavioural digital mental health support to make a significant positive difference to the mental health of school students, and in so doing add a new US state to complement the support we are already delivering in California and New Jersey.’