Young people in Bucks are set to benefit from free online counselling, after it was revealed there has been a huge national increase in mental health conditions in children and teenagers.

Digital mental health service Xen Zone has been commissioned to provide its online emotional wellbeing and counselling programme, Kooth, to young people in the county.

The service, funded by Bucks Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), will provide self-help information, moderated forums, counsellor messaging and online therapy to young people between the ages of 11 and 19.

Kooth is available 24-hours a day, and allows young people to either drop-in or book sessions with therapists for text-based counselling from 12pm to 10pm on weekdays or 6pm to 10pm on weekends.

The service has been commissioned by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Bucks CCG and Bucks County Council (BCC).

Over the summer it was revealed almost 400,000 children and young people in England are being treated for mental health problems every year, the highest number ever.

Cabinet member for children’s services at BCC, Warren Whyte, said the emotional wellbeing of children and young people is a “growing concern” and praised Kooth for providing “easy access support”.

Eleanor Rowsell from Oxford Health NHS FT added: “We are excited to be able to offer this service to young people in Buckinghamshire.

“Initially it can be difficult to reach out to our services and Kooth is a great way to get support if they don’t feel ready contact us directly.”

XenZone’s founder, Elaine Bousfield, said the aim of Kooth is to reach more young people struggling with mental health problems earlier.

She said: “Kooth gives young people confidential and anonymous access to support for their mental health whenever and wherever they need it.

“Our hope is that we are able to reach more children and young people early – at the point at which they may first start to struggle with their mental health.

“We know that early help can make a huge difference to a young person’s mental wellbeing. We look forward to supporting young people in Buckinghamshire and urge young people in the area to log in if they need support.”