HEREFORDSHIRE Council has commissioned a new digital mental health service offering free counselling and emotional support. 

Qwell is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year via computer, tablet or smartphone. There are no waiting lists or referrals needed.

There are one-to-one counselling support sessions available, with fully qualified wellbeing practitioners (12pm to 10pm weekdays and 6pm to 10pm weekends and holidays), alongside an extensive range of self-care and psycho-educational materials, peer-to-peer support via forums, articles and personal tools, such as an online journal.

The new service is part of the council’s Covid-19 recovery plans after the Herefordshire Community Wellbeing Survey revealed that 28 per cent of respondents had reported high levels of anxiety in 2021. It also found that 33 per cent admitted doing less exercise and 30 per cent were sleeping less well than the previous year.

To access the free service, visit qwell.io.