An economic evaluation of Kooth, a web-based mental health platform for children and young people with emerging mental health needs

BackgroundThe Kooth platform is a mental health web-based platform commissioned by the NHS, local authorities, charities and businesses. Through the platform children and young people (CYP) have access to an online community of peers and a team of experienced counsellors. ObjectiveTo evaluate the potential benefits of the Kooth mental health platform in the UK, including the costs and savings to public services and impact on both immediate and intermediate outcomes for CYP. MethodsA cost calculator was built to estimate the cost to the UK government as a result of implementing the Kooth platform. A decision tree structure was used to track the progress of CYP with emerging mental health needs (EMHN), comparing those with access to the Kooth platform and those without access to a mental health platform. FindingsThe base case results followed a cohort of 2,160 CYP. The results of the cost calculator estimated that engagement with the Kooth platform is associated with a cost saving of {pound}303,234 or {pound}199 per engaged user, to the NHS and UK crime sector. ConclusionsThe uptake of mental health platforms, such as Kooth, could result in cost savings to the UK public sectors and should be given consideration as a beneficial addition to existing mental health services.