App offers free mental health counselling anywhere, anytime

UK startup offers a consumer-styled app alternative to traditional mental health services

Spotted:

A UK startup is offering an app that gives free access to registered mental health professionals. Called Spill, it is offered for free to employees and students of participating companies and universities. The chat-based app features an on-demand service in which callers can reach out for help anytime. They are matched with counsellors and therapists affiliated with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

The app encourages contacting counsellors to talk about everyday stresses, not just mental health crises. It also strives to make mental health a habit by encouraging daily check-ins and tasks.

Spill co-founder Calvin Benton said the app enables “counselling work fit for the 21st century”.