Gwasanaeth cwnsela a llesiant emosiynol ar-lein i bobl ifanc / Online counselling and emotional wellbeing service for young people

MAE gwasanaeth cymorth cwnsela a llesiant emosiynol ar-lein newydd i bobl ifanc yng nghanolbarth a gorllewin Cymru wedi’i lansio gan Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda.

Mae’r Gwasanaeth Arbenigol Iechyd Meddwl Plant a’r Glasoed (S-CAMHS) wedi comisiynu Kooth, sy’n wasanaeth cwnsela ar-lein ac wedi’i achredu gan Gymdeithas Seicotherapi a Chynghori Prydain.

Yn dilyn atgyfeiriad priodol gan S-CAMHS, bydd pobl ifanc rhwng 11 a 18 oed nawr yn gallu cael gafael ar gwnsela ar-lein trwy eu dyfais symudol, 365 diwrnod y flwyddyn. Mae Kooth yn darparu dull gyfunol o gwnsela ar-lein, cefnogaeth a chyngor i bobl ifanc, sy’n rhad ac am ddim, yn ddiogel ac yn ddienw gan gwnselwyr cyfeillgar.

Bydd cwnselwyr profiadol ar gael ar gyfer sesiynau galw heibio rhithwir neu sesiynau sgwrsio y gellir eu harchebu rhwng hanner dydd a 10pm yn ystod yr wythnos, ac o 6pm tan 10pm ar benwythnosau. Mae taflenni ar gael yn Saesneg a Chymraeg ac ar hyn o bryd mae’r gwasanaeth yn recriwtio cwnselwyr sy’n siarad Cymraeg.

Yn ogystal â chwnsela ar-lein, mae Kooth yn cynnig cefnogaeth cymar-i-gymar, fforymau wedi’u cymedroli gydag aelodau ifanc eraill o’r ‘gymuned Kooth’ ac ystod eang o ddeunyddiau hunangymorth.

Bydd pobl ifanc sy’n defnyddio’r gwasanaeth yn gallu ceisio cefnogaeth neu gyngor ar unrhyw bwnc y maent yn dymuno, o ymdopi â straen arholiad neu fwlio, ceisio cymorth ar gyfer materion bwyta a delwedd y corff, delio â meddyliau hunanladdol neu drin cam-drin rhywiol. Nid oes trothwyon na rhwystrau i bobl ifanc rhag derbyn cymorth gan Kooth.

Dywedodd Pennaeth S-CAMHS Angela Lodwick, Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda: “Rydym yn croesawu’r gwasanaeth cwnsela digidol ar-lein newydd hwn i ategu a chefnogi’r ystod o wasanaethau S-CAMHS sydd ar gael i bobl ifanc fel rhan o’r ymrwymiad parhaus i wella gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl lleol.”

Ychwanegodd Dr Lynne Green, Prif Swyddog Clinigol, Kooth: “Rydyn ni wrth ein boddau gweld y bydd pobl ifanc 11 i 18 oed yng nghanolbarth a gorllewin Cymru nawr yn gallu elwa o wasanaethau Kooth.

“Mae gwasanaeth iechyd meddwl digidol fel Kooth yn fuddiol i bobl ifanc gan ei fod yn anhysbys ac yn rhydd o’r stigma y mae rhai unigolion yn ei wynebu.

“Gall pobl ifanc fewngofnodi’n hawdd i Kooth, gan nad oes ganddo restrau aros a dim trothwyon i’w cwrdd i gael mynediad at gefnogaeth. Mae ein cwnselwyr cymwys wrth law i ddarparu cefnogaeth ac arweiniad bob dydd.

“Rydym yn edrych ymlaen at gefnogi pobl ifanc yn ardal Hywel Dda gyda’u hiechyd meddwl ac annog pob person ifanc i ofyn am gymorth ar Kooth.”

A new online counselling and emotional wellbeing support service for young people in mid and west Wales has been launched by Hywel Dda University Health Board.

The Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (S-CAMHS) has commissioned Kooth, which is an award-winning online counselling service and is accredited by The British Association of Psychotherapy and Counselling.

Following an appropriate referral from SCAMHS, young people aged between 11 and 18 years old will now be able to access online counselling through their mobile device, 365 days a year. Kooth provides a blended approach of online counselling, support, and advice to young people, which is free, safe, and anonymous by friendly counsellors.

Experienced counsellors will be available for virtual drop-in or bookable chat sessions from 12 noon until 10pm on weekdays, and from 6pm until 10pm on weekends. Leaflets are available in English and Welsh and the service is currently recruiting Welsh speaking counsellors.

In addition to online counselling, Kooth offers peer-to-peer support, moderated forums with other young members of the ‘Kooth community’ and a wide range of self-help materials.

Young people who use the service will be able to seek support or advice on any topic they wish, from coping with exam stress or bullying, seeking help for eating issues and body image, dealing with suicidal thoughts or handling sexual abuse. There are no thresholds or barriers for young people on receiving help from Kooth.

Angela Lodwick Head S-CAMHS, Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “We welcome this new digital online counselling service to complement and support the range of S-CAMHS services available for young people as part of the ongoing commitment to improving local mental health services.”

Dr Lynne Green, Chief Clinical Officer, Kooth added: “We’re delighted to see that 11 to 18 year olds in mid and west Wales will now be able to benefit from Kooth’s services.

“A digital mental health service like Kooth is beneficial to young people as it is anonymous and free from the stigma some individuals face.

“Young people can easily log on to Kooth, which has no waiting lists and no thresholds to meet to gain access to support. Our qualified counsellors are on hand to provide support and guidance every day.

“We look forward to supporting young people in the Hywel Dda area with their mental health and encourage all young people to seek help on Kooth.”