The move follows on from research by the charity, which provides support for chartered accountants and their families from training through to retirement, which highlighted the mental health issues facing the accountancy profession. This found one in four in the sector between the ages of 18-24 think about quitting their job every day, and often this is due to the crippling pressures of mounting workload and stress faced daily.

Through CABA’s partnership with XenZone, chartered accountants and their children will have 24-hour access to self-help materials as well as goal-setting and mood-tracking tools. 

The online service, called Kooth, hosts moderated live forums, allowing for peer-to-peer support and interactive messaging with counsellors. Users are also able to drop-in or book anonymous online counselling sessions with qualified therapists who are available in the evenings and at weekends; sessions are available on weekdays from 12pm and 10pm, and from 6pm to 10pm on weekends.

MaryJane Gunn, support manager at CABA, said: ‘We hope that our partnership with XenZone to offer Kooth and its services to ICAEW members and their children will really help to reduce the pressure on young people. We also know that often younger people within the industry don’t ask for help for fear of showing weakness. We hope that this new partnership gives an anonymous outlet for them to turn to, preventing them from suffering alone.’

Established in 2004, Kooth is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is now available in more than 100 NHS clinical commissioning group (CCG) areas.  CABA’s commission marks its first national contract and its first outside the public sector.

Pat Sweet | 09-08-2019