Millions of young people in California now have access to safe, anonymous behavioral health and wellness support and tools through Kooth’s latest app, Soluna, at no cost to the user. In support of our mission to remove the barriers to and stigma surrounding behavioral health, Soluna has reimagined the delivery of behavioral health and wellness tools for every Californian age 13-25.
Soluna is part of a groundbreaking initiative spearheaded by mental health and wellness champion California Gov. Gavin Newsom, The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). It’s a historic, five-year, $4.7 billion initiative to completely transform the way California supports children, youth, and families. With a strong foundation of equity and accessibility, it’s built to meet young people and families where they are, helping them when, where, and in the manner they need it most.
Young children and those in their early 20s have very different life stressors and needs. California selected two vendors to offer this unprecedented access. For those ages 13 through 25, their access is offered through Soluna. For children under 12 years old and their parents, Brightline has developed a new tool: BrightLife Kids, which is focused on the same integrated, youth-centered, equitable, and preventative solution as Soluna, and echoes the mission and the history of that we’ve built at Kooth.
Kooth and Brightline were selected from more than 450 vendors identified to participate in this process. Working closely with the California Department of Health Care Services, more than 300 children and young people were interviewed throughout the process to ensure that the focus was on the user and what matters most to them. After dozens of focus groups, one-on-one meetings, and several think tank sessions, Soluna and BrightLife Kids were selected to promote the mental, emotional, and behavioral health and well being of millions of Californians aged 0-25.
At Kooth, we believe in equity of both access and awareness. CYBHI addresses the inequities facing groups disproportionately impacted by mental health challenges and those facing the greatest systemic barriers to care and overall well being.
But before we discuss what our solution offers and why our team is so proud of it, we wanted to offer a glimpse at what’s at stake for our young people if we don’t act now. Frankly, we’re at risk of losing an entire generation if we don’t offer preventative behavioral health tools and support or if we don’t meet young people where they are when we attempt to do it.
Children and young people are facing a mental health crisis exacerbated by a clinician shortage. Statistics show young people are impacted more by anxiety and depression, and there are fewer clinicians to offer support. In some cases, clinician shortages result in wait times of six months for a single appointment. But with this crisis, time is of the essence. Sadly, suicide rates are on the rise. In California, more than 284,000 young people cope with major depression, yet 66% do not receive treatment.
Kooth offers tools and support for a variety of presenting issues – stress, anxiety, loneliness, bullying – before there’s ever a diagnosis. We can still be a valuable resource for those with a diagnosis, but our focus is on the large swath of young people who would otherwise not pursue behavioral health and wellness tools or support. We do this through coaching sessions – either text or chat-based – with our behavioral health coaches.
In addition, Kooth offers journaling and other educational content including age-tailored articles, videos, podcasts, and stories. We have clinically validated assessments to better understand and monitor behavioral health over time and forums, and programs to connect users in a safe and anonymous way – all of which are clinically moderated 24/7 – where people can learn from the shared experiences of their peers.
And we do it all safely and securely through your phone. Available through iOS and Android apps, Soluna users can access many features anonymously – self-guided tools, guides, resources, exercises, and games – or create a full account to access professional or peer support.
Governor Newsom and his staff, the remarkable team at DHCS, and everyone involved with CYBHI are to be commended for their courage in working toward the goal of creating a more resilient generation. Together, we are working to ensure that every Californian has the resources and tools they need to succeed in every step of their journey.
To learn more about Soluna, visit www.SolunaApp.com
