School-Based Mental Health Services

ASK YOURSELF: Does your school provide mental health services? Are those services digital or in-person? Do they include individual or group counseling, digital tools, or prescription drugs? Are parents involved in these services? Do they use a digital mental health program such as Kooth? Do you know what Kooth is?

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Did you know that the age of consent for mental health services in Pennsylvania is 14? Schools and outside businesses are taking advantage of that by offering in-school services which can leave the parent out of the process. Parents want the best help for their child if they are struggling, but they also want is a say in the form of that help. Pennsylvania in-school services may include the “digital mental healthcare” program Kooth. Kooth is a tech business and they want your child as a life long customer.

As with any tool that is digitally based, Kooth requires the student to spend (more) time on an electronic device, a practice that is already having tremendous mental health consequences. There is also always the possibility of loss of privacy and data mining. Pennsylvania Coalition for Informed Consent (PCIC) has an informative series of articles outlining what Kooth is, how it came to be in Pennsylvania, and how it might impact your child’s mental healthcare.

Inform yourself before you consent.

School-Based Mental Health and Informed Consent

Does Your Child Have Access to this Experimental Mental Health App?

Stunning Revelations Expose Kooth Back Story

Students Taking Candy from Strangers – Or Rather, Kooth Employees

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BREAKING: Schools pilot Mental Health Apps behind Parents’ backs

Give a listen to this informative Podcast from “Radically Genuine Podcast” with Dr. Roger McFillin:

“Mental health apps are being introduced with the goal of addressing underdiagnosed and undertreated psychiatric disorders using AI technologies. Kooth U.S. and the Pennsylvania state Department of Human Services signed a $3 million grant to pilot a digital mental health platform in 30 school districts. The platform offers anonymous message boards, online chatting, a personalized library, and journaling options for students in grades 6 to 12. However, concerns have been raised regarding the potential risks of children communicating with unknown Kooth team members on the platform without parental consent.”