(Sharecast News) - Digital mental well-being services provider Kooth said on Tuesday that it had launched an initial one-year partnership with Aetna Better Health of Illinois.

Kooth stated its services were now live across locations in the east, Midwest and west coast of the United States and noted that its contract with Aetna represented the firm's first private sector engagement in the country.

The AIM-listed group said the partnership will initially focus on offering 11,000 young people across three counties in Illinois access to safe, confidential and moderated content, community and professional support from license clinicians.

Chief executive Tim Barker said: "We're delighted to announce progress in our partnership with Aetna, our first private sector US partner, which means that thousands of children and young people in Illinois' Medicaid population will be able to benefit from our platform. We look forward to continuing our work together and delivering support to those who need it."

As of 0955 BST, Kooth shares were up 2.25% at 318.0p.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com