Breaking Barriers: Aetna Better Health? of Illinois and Kooth Digital Health Collaboration to Tackle Youth Mental Health Crisis

By: Bob McCullough, VP of Clinical Strategy for Kooth North America

The global mental health crisis threatening teens and young people is unprecedented in scale and scope. Providing access to tools and services that support better mental health for youth is critical, and our partnership with Aetna Better Health? of Illinois marks another significant development for the mental health and well-being landscape.?

At Kooth Digital Health, we help teens and young people navigate stress, anxiety, depression, and other challenges through a digital platform. Since 2022, Kooth has supported approximately 100,000 students across Pennsylvania. In early 2024, our partnership with California’s Department of Health Care Services opened the door for more than 6 million 13- to 25-year-olds to have free access to critical mental health resources through Soluna , part of the state’s historic $4.6 billion commitment to youth mental health.?

And now, we’re helping young people in the midwestern United States better understand the signs and symptoms of mental health concerns and equipping them with the same digital support tools so they can thrive and flourish amid the ongoing pressures they face.

Much like our partnerships in California and Pennsylvania, Aetna Better Health of Illinois’ decision to bring mental health tools to teens and young people demonstrates how government, private businesses, and nonprofit organizations can successfully work together to offer teens and young people the lifelines they deserve. Our partnership will provide thousands of teens and young people in Illinois access to Kooth’s digital platform at no cost to the user.

The urgency of this partnership is underscored by concerning statistics from the National Alliance for Mental Illness. Their research indicates a substantial gap in mental healthcare access for adolescents and young adults in Illinois grappling with conditions such as depression, a circumstance that can have far-reaching consequences. The prevalence of mental health conditions among youth in the juvenile justice system in the state of Illinois, seven in 10, serves as a poignant reminder of the intersecting challenges facing vulnerable populations.

But there is hope. The data is clear: teens and young people benefit from access to well-being tools to help develop better skills and mental health management.

This partnership enables a multifaceted approach to support young individuals in their mental health journeys through confidential access to resources, moderated community spaces, and professional support from Illinois licensed clinicians. Certain Aetna members will have free, on-demand access to Kooth’s resources, which encompass:

• Self-guided journeys, featuring evidence-based therapeutic content and tools such as mood tracking, breathwork, writing and journaling prompts, podcasts, videos, and more
• Secure, moderated community spaces designed for peer support?
• Professional support through drop-in chat or ongoing, structured counseling sessions

Our team at Kooth believes all stakeholders have a collective responsibility to address the mental health needs of young people. Our collaboration with Aetna Better Health of Illinois embodies a shared vision of support. It sets a precedent for impactful solutions that address the complex and pressing issue of youth mental health. A brighter, healthier future is on the horizon when we work together on inclusive care approaches that reflect a commitment to early intervention and holistic well-being.?