Parents Beware of Mental Health Apps Disguised as Mental Healthcare

Genuine concerns have been raised regarding American public schools overstepping their boundaries and straying into areas beyond their expertise, leading to the indoctrination of children with ideologies that contradict family values. While the primary purpose of public schools is to provide a quality education to students, a growing number of critics argue that certain institutions are delving into social and cultural matters that should fall under the purview of families.

Allegations of biased curriculum choices, political indoctrination, and the promotion of specific ideologies have ignited heated debates on the role of public schools in shaping students' beliefs.

The intrusion of public schools into the role of mental health gatekeepers is a concerning and potentially dangerous development. While educational institutions have a vital responsibility to nurture students' overall well-being, it is critical to recognize that mental health issues require specialized care and expertise beyond the scope of teachers, administrators, and even school counselors and psychologists.

Placing schools in this position risks transforming educational institutions into amateur mental health authorities, potentially exacerbating students' problems rather than effectively addressing them. Lack of proper training and qualifications among educators to handle delicate mental health issues has lead to misdiagnoses, inappropriate interventions, and harmful outcomes. Moreover, the shift towards schools as gatekeepers inadvertently undermines parents' rights to be actively involved in their children's mental health decisions, eroding the sacred foundation of family values and autonomy.

This is exactly what is now happening.

On October 11, 2022, a $3 million grant was signed by Kooth U.S. and the Pennsylvania state Department of Human Services to pilot a digital mental health and wellbeing platform in 30 school districts across the commonwealth. In participating school districts, students in 6th-12th grade are able to sign up and access the platform for free. Kooth’s online platform has anonymous message boards, online chatting with Kooth team members, access to a library that is customized to a user’s needs, and a journaling option. 

Currently California is the only other state that has signed a contract with Kooth for 2024. Unlike Pennsylvania, the state of California is recommending Kooth to children through their State Department of Health, not through their schools. “DHCS selected Kooth to support the delivery of equitable, appropriate, and timely behavioral health services to youth and young adults (ages 13-25). Kooth will also integrate with other partners to provide a seamless user experience, including providing services and supports to children (ages 0- 12) and their parents/caregivers”. According to the representative from Kooth at the Wyoming School Board meeting in May 2023, Kooth is in talks with Kentucky, Illinois, Arizona, New York, Kansas and Missouri.

In brief, the prevailing mental health crisis in the United States can be attributed, in part, to significant shifts in the American lifestyle. What was once a crucial topic concerning individual well-being has now become a buzzword, resulting in the exploitation of the crisis for financial gain within our capitalistic system. As we navigate the new economy, our attention has become a valuable commodity, eagerly sought after by opportunistic entities.

A significant transformation in American culture revolves around the ubiquitous presence of smartphones and social media, which have seamlessly integrated into our daily lives. Overwhelming evidence points to a concerning correlation between increased screen time and social media usage with deteriorating collective mental health. This issue is particularly acute among adolescents, marking a distressing public health epidemic.

It seems counterintuitive to combat a public health crisis driven by factors such as social disconnection, smart phone dependence, a lack of purpose, sedentary lifestyles, and existential angst by subjecting vulnerable teenagers to even more screen time. Smartphones and social media platforms are intentionally designed to be addictive, leveraging neuroscience and behavioral psychology to foster dependence on these devices.

Parents, it is crucial to consider the implications of allowing your teenager to have contact with an anonymous Kooth employee without your knowledge or permission. We must not overlook the potential consequences when it comes to your child's "mental health."

Upon visiting the app, you'll find what they label as "educational" materials on sensitive subjects such as gender ideology and psychiatric diagnoses, presenting their version of mental health. The concerning aspect is that you will have no insight into the person on the other end - no knowledge of their credentials or expertise.

The app promotes unmonitored discussions between your teenager and a complete stranger, which can be worrisome. It's essential to be cautious about the information and guidance your child may receive in such interactions. As responsible parents, staying involved and informed about your child's mental well-being is of utmost importance.

It is well-known among mental health experts that the focus of our attention significantly impacts our emotional well-being. If we choose to focus on every upsetting aspect of our lives, it becomes our reality. Similarly, intensely scrutinizing ourselves, comparing to others, ruminating over perceived slights, and feeling like a victim in our peer group can shape your child’s developing identity. When someone comes along and reinforces these negative thought patterns, lifting them up while validating and affirming their difficulties, they essentially confirm the reality that our vulnerable teenagers are beginning to perceive.

This does not solve the mental health crisis.

This contributes to it.

Which is exactly the point.

Companies like Kooth, which are publicly traded and profit from their services, benefit from your child's struggles. The job of the person on the other end of the app depends on the continuation of these struggles, creating a clear conflict of interest.

RESIST

In next weeks post I will discuss clear strategies on how to protect your kids from these predatory attempts to control their attention and define their realities.