The county Department of Mental Health has already promoted Soluna, but supporters of the motion said its use remains limited relative to the county’s youth population
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a plan to broaden use of a state-funded digital mental health platform aimed at young people, as officials look for additional ways to address rising mental health needs among adolescents and young adults.
In a Nov. 18 vote, the board backed a motion directing county departments to increase awareness of Soluna, a free online wellness app available to California residents ages 13 to 25. The platform offers virtual coaching, self-guided mental health tools and moderated peer discussion forums, and is funded by the state through California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative.
The county Department of Mental Health has already promoted Soluna, but supporters of the motion said its use remains limited relative to the county’s youth population, which exceeds 2 million. The approved plan calls for coordination across multiple county agencies that regularly interact with young people, including child welfare services, probation, parks and recreation, public social services, libraries and the county office of education.
County officials said the goal is to make information about the app more widely available in settings where young people already receive services, rather than relying solely on mental health clinics for outreach.
Soluna is operated by Kooth, a private digital mental health company, and includes access to one-on-one coaching, educational content and referrals to community-based services.
