diff --git a/client/src/api/schema/schema.ts b/client/src/api/schema/schema.ts
index 2fc6e880b85a..ab24476d7856 100644
--- a/client/src/api/schema/schema.ts
+++ b/client/src/api/schema/schema.ts
@@ -451,6 +451,15 @@ export interface paths {
          */
         delete: operations["delete_api_groups__group_id__users__user_id__delete"];
     };
+    "/api/help/forum/search": {
+        /**
+         * Search the Galaxy Help forum.
+         * @description Search the Galaxy Help forum using the Discourse API.
+         *
+         * **Note**: This endpoint is for **INTERNAL USE ONLY** and is not part of the public Galaxy API.
+         */
+        get: operations["search_forum_api_help_forum_search_get"];
+    };
     "/api/histories": {
         /** Returns histories for the current user. */
         get: operations["index_api_histories_get"];
@@ -5646,6 +5655,229 @@ export interface components {
              */
             type: "hdca";
         };
+        /**
+         * HelpForumCategory
+         * @description Model for a category in the help forum.
+         */
+        HelpForumCategory: Record<string, never>;
+        /**
+         * HelpForumGroup
+         * @description Model for a group in the help forum.
+         */
+        HelpForumGroup: Record<string, never>;
+        /**
+         * HelpForumGroupedSearchResult
+         * @description Model for a grouped search result.
+         */
+        HelpForumGroupedSearchResult: Record<string, never>;
+        /**
+         * HelpForumPost
+         * @description Model for a post in the help forum.
+         */
+        HelpForumPost: {
+            /**
+             * Avatar Template
+             * @description The avatar template of the user.
+             */
+            avatar_template: string;
+            /**
+             * Blurb
+             * @description The blurb of the post.
+             */
+            blurb: string;
+            /**
+             * Created At
+             * @description The creation date of the post.
+             */
+            created_at: string;
+            /**
+             * Id
+             * @description The ID of the post.
+             */
+            id: number;
+            /**
+             * Like Count
+             * @description The number of likes of the post.
+             */
+            like_count: number;
+            /**
+             * Name
+             * @description The name of the post.
+             */
+            name: string;
+            /**
+             * Post Number
+             * @description The post number of the post.
+             */
+            post_number: number;
+            /**
+             * Topic Id
+             * @description The ID of the topic of the post.
+             */
+            topic_id: number;
+            /**
+             * Username
+             * @description The username of the post author.
+             */
+            username: string;
+        };
+        /**
+         * HelpForumSearchResponse
+         * @description Response model for the help search API endpoint.
+         *
+         * This model is based on the Discourse API response for the search endpoint.
+         */
+        HelpForumSearchResponse: {
+            /** Categories */
+            categories?: components["schemas"]["HelpForumCategory"][];
+            grouped_search_result?: components["schemas"]["HelpForumGroupedSearchResult"];
+            /** Groups */
+            groups?: components["schemas"]["HelpForumGroup"][];
+            /** Posts */
+            posts?: components["schemas"]["HelpForumPost"][];
+            /** Tags */
+            tags?: components["schemas"]["HelpForumTag"][];
+            /** Topics */
+            topics?: components["schemas"]["HelpForumTopic"][];
+            /** Users */
+            users?: components["schemas"]["HelpForumUser"][];
+        };
+        /**
+         * HelpForumTag
+         * @description Model for a tag in the help forum.
+         */
+        HelpForumTag: Record<string, never>;
+        /**
+         * HelpForumTopic
+         * @description Model for a topic in the help forum compatible with Discourse API.
+         */
+        HelpForumTopic: {
+            /**
+             * Archetype
+             * @description The archetype of the topic.
+             */
+            archetype?: Record<string, never>;
+            /**
+             * Archived
+             * @description Whether the topic is archived.
+             */
+            archived: boolean;
+            /**
+             * Bookmarked
+             * @description Whether the topic is bookmarked.
+             */
+            bookmarked?: boolean;
+            /**
+             * Bumped
+             * @description Whether the topic was bumped.
+             */
+            bumped: boolean;
+            /**
+             * Bumped At
+             * @description The date of the last bump of the topic.
+             */
+            bumped_at: string;
+            /**
+             * Category Id
+             * @description The ID of the category of the topic.
+             */
+            category_id: number;
+            /**
+             * Closed
+             * @description Whether the topic is closed.
+             */
+            closed: boolean;
+            /**
+             * Created At
+             * @description The creation date of the topic.
+             */
+            created_at: string;
+            /**
+             * Fancy Title
+             * @description The fancy title of the topic.
+             */
+            fancy_title: string;
+            /**
+             * Has Accepted Answer
+             * @description Whether the topic has an accepted answer.
+             */
+            has_accepted_answer: boolean;
+            /**
+             * Highest Post Number
+             * @description The highest post number in the topic.
+             */
+            highest_post_number: number;
+            /**
+             * Id
+             * @description The ID of the topic.
+             */
+            id: number;
+            /**
+             * Last Posted At
+             * @description The date of the last post in the topic.
+             */
+            last_posted_at: string;
+            /**
+             * Liked
+             * @description Whether the topic is liked.
+             */
+            liked?: boolean;
+            /**
+             * Pinned
+             * @description Whether the topic is pinned.
+             */
+            pinned: boolean;
+            /**
+             * Posts Count
+             * @description The number of posts in the topic.
+             */
+            posts_count: number;
+            /**
+             * Reply Count
+             * @description The number of replies in the topic.
+             */
+            reply_count: number;
+            /**
+             * Slug
+             * @description The slug of the topic.
+             */
+            slug: string;
+            /**
+             * Tags
+             * @description The tags of the topic.
+             */
+            tags: string[];
+            /**
+             * Tags Descriptions
+             * @description The descriptions of the tags of the topic.
+             */
+            tags_descriptions?: Record<string, never>;
+            /**
+             * Title
+             * @description The title of the topic.
+             */
+            title: string;
+            /**
+             * Unpinned
+             * @description Whether the topic is unpinned.
+             */
+            unpinned?: boolean;
+            /**
+             * Unseen
+             * @description Whether the topic is unseen.
+             */
+            unseen: boolean;
+            /**
+             * Visible
+             * @description Whether the topic is visible.
+             */
+            visible: boolean;
+        };
+        /**
+         * HelpForumUser
+         * @description Model for a user in the help forum.
+         */
+        HelpForumUser: Record<string, never>;
         /** HistoryContentBulkOperationPayload */
         HistoryContentBulkOperationPayload: {
             /** Items */
@@ -12120,6 +12352,34 @@ export interface operations {
             };
         };
     };
+    search_forum_api_help_forum_search_get: {
+        /**
+         * Search the Galaxy Help forum.
+         * @description Search the Galaxy Help forum using the Discourse API.
+         *
+         * **Note**: This endpoint is for **INTERNAL USE ONLY** and is not part of the public Galaxy API.
+         */
+        parameters: {
+            /** @description Search query to use for searching the Galaxy Help forum. */
+            query: {
+                query: string;
+            };
+        };
+        responses: {
+            /** @description Successful Response */
+            200: {
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["HelpForumSearchResponse"];
+                };
+            };
+            /** @description Validation Error */
+            422: {
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["HTTPValidationError"];
+                };
+            };
+        };
+    };
     index_api_histories_get: {
         /** Returns histories for the current user. */
         parameters?: {
diff --git a/client/src/components/Tool/ToolCard.vue b/client/src/components/Tool/ToolCard.vue
index 220977a56640..4f89eab6b7ab 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Tool/ToolCard.vue
+++ b/client/src/components/Tool/ToolCard.vue
@@ -7,11 +7,13 @@ import { getAppRoot } from "onload/loadConfig";
 import { storeToRefs } from "pinia";
 import { computed, ref, watch } from "vue";
 
+import { useConfigStore } from "@/stores/configurationStore";
 import { useUserStore } from "@/stores/userStore";
 
 import ToolSelectPreferredObjectStore from "./ToolSelectPreferredObjectStore";
 import ToolTargetPreferredObjectStorePopover from "./ToolTargetPreferredObjectStorePopover";
 
+import ToolHelpForum from "./ToolHelpForum.vue";
 import ToolTutorialRecommendations from "./ToolTutorialRecommendations.vue";
 import ToolFavoriteButton from "components/Tool/Buttons/ToolFavoriteButton.vue";
 import ToolOptionsButton from "components/Tool/Buttons/ToolOptionsButton.vue";
@@ -82,6 +84,7 @@ function onSetError(e) {
 }
 
 const { currentUser, isAnonymous } = storeToRefs(useUserStore());
+const { isLoaded: isConfigLoaded, config } = storeToRefs(useConfigStore());
 const hasUser = computed(() => !isAnonymous.value);
 const versions = computed(() => props.options.versions);
 const showVersions = computed(() => props.options.versions?.length > 1);
@@ -99,6 +102,8 @@ function onUpdatePreferredObjectStoreId(selectedToolPreferredObjectStoreId) {
     toolPreferredObjectStoreId.value = selectedToolPreferredObjectStoreId;
     emit("updatePreferredObjectStoreId", selectedToolPreferredObjectStoreId);
 }
+
+const showHelpForum = computed(() => isConfigLoaded.value && config.value.enable_help_forum_tool_panel_integration);
 </script>
 
 <template>
@@ -180,6 +185,8 @@ function onUpdatePreferredObjectStoreId(selectedToolPreferredObjectStoreId) {
                 :version="props.options.version"
                 :owner="props.options.tool_shed_repository?.owner" />
 
+            <ToolHelpForum v-if="showHelpForum" :tool-id="props.id" :tool-name="props.title" />
+
             <ToolFooter
                 :id="props.id"
                 :has-citations="props.options.citations"
diff --git a/client/src/components/Tool/ToolForm.vue b/client/src/components/Tool/ToolForm.vue
index f7b5f7b8182b..1a88b40654e4 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Tool/ToolForm.vue
+++ b/client/src/components/Tool/ToolForm.vue
@@ -106,12 +106,12 @@ import FormDisplay from "components/Form/FormDisplay";
 import FormElement from "components/Form/FormElement";
 import LoadingSpan from "components/LoadingSpan";
 import ToolEntryPoints from "components/ToolEntryPoints/ToolEntryPoints";
-import { mapActions, mapState } from "pinia";
+import { mapActions, mapState, storeToRefs } from "pinia";
 import { useHistoryItemsStore } from "stores/historyItemsStore";
 import { useJobStore } from "stores/jobStore";
 import { refreshContentsWrapper } from "utils/data";
 
-import { useConfig } from "@/composables/config";
+import { useConfigStore } from "@/stores/configurationStore";
 import { useHistoryStore } from "@/stores/historyStore";
 import { useUserStore } from "@/stores/userStore";
 
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ export default {
         },
     },
     setup() {
-        const { config, isConfigLoaded } = useConfig(true);
+        const { config, isLoaded: isConfigLoaded } = storeToRefs(useConfigStore());
         return { config, isConfigLoaded };
     },
     data() {
diff --git a/client/src/components/Tool/ToolHelpForum.vue b/client/src/components/Tool/ToolHelpForum.vue
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..da592eba6035
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/components/Tool/ToolHelpForum.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import { FontAwesomeIcon } from "@fortawesome/vue-fontawesome";
+import { BButton, BCard } from "bootstrap-vue";
+import { computed, onMounted, ref } from "vue";
+
+import { fetcher } from "@/api/schema";
+import { useConfigStore } from "@/stores/configurationStore";
+
+import { createTopicUrl, type HelpForumPost, type HelpForumTopic, useHelpURLs } from "./helpForumUrls";
+
+import Heading from "@/components/Common/Heading.vue";
+import ExternalLink from "@/components/ExternalLink.vue";
+
+const props = defineProps<{
+    toolId: string;
+    toolName: string;
+}>();
+
+const toolHelpTag = "tool-help";
+
+const helpFetcher = fetcher.path("/api/help/forum/search").method("get").create();
+
+const topics = ref<HelpForumTopic[]>([]);
+const posts = ref<HelpForumPost[]>([]);
+const helpAvailable = computed(() => topics.value.length > 0);
+
+const root = ref(null);
+
+const query = computed(() => `tags:${props.toolId}+${toolHelpTag} status:solved`);
+
+onMounted(async () => {
+    const response = await helpFetcher({ query: query.value });
+
+    const data = response.data;
+
+    topics.value = (data.topics ?? []) as HelpForumTopic[];
+    posts.value = data.posts ?? [];
+});
+
+const displayCount = 5;
+
+const displayedTopics = computed(() => topics.value.slice(0, displayCount - 1));
+const hasMore = computed(() => topics.value.length > displayCount);
+
+function blurbForTopic(topicId: number): string {
+    const firstPost = posts.value.find((post) => post.topic_id === topicId);
+    return firstPost?.blurb ?? "no content";
+}
+
+const { createNewTopicUrl, searchTopicUrl } = useHelpURLs({
+    title: computed(() => props.toolName),
+    tags: computed(() => [props.toolId, toolHelpTag]),
+    query,
+});
+
+const configStore = useConfigStore();
+</script>
+
+<template>
+    <div ref="root" class="tool-help-forum mt-2 mb-4">
+        <Heading h2 separator bold size="sm">Help Forum</Heading>
+
+        <p v-if="helpAvailable">
+            Following questions on the
+            <ExternalLink :href="configStore.config.help_forum_api_url"> Help Forum </ExternalLink> may be related to
+            this tool:
+        </p>
+        <p v-else>
+            There are no questions on the
+            <ExternalLink :href="configStore.config.help_forum_api_url"> Help Forum </ExternalLink>
+            about this tool.
+        </p>
+
+        <BCard v-for="topic in displayedTopics" :key="topic.id" class="mb-2">
+            <ExternalLink :href="createTopicUrl(topic.id, topic.slug).href">
+                <Heading h3 inline size="sm"> {{ topic.title }} </Heading>
+            </ExternalLink>
+            <p class="mb-0 mt-2">{{ blurbForTopic(topic.id) }}</p>
+        </BCard>
+
+        <a v-if="hasMore" :href="searchTopicUrl.href" target="_blank" class="d-block mb-2">Show all...</a>
+
+        <BButton variant="primary" class="font-weight-bold" target="blank" :href="createNewTopicUrl.href">
+            <FontAwesomeIcon :icon="['gxd', 'galaxyLogo']" /> Ask a new question
+        </BButton>
+    </div>
+</template>
+
+<style scoped lang="scss">
+@import "theme/blue.scss";
+
+.tool-help-forum {
+    --fa-secondary-color: #{$brand-toggle};
+    --fa-secondary-opacity: 1;
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/client/src/components/Tool/helpForumUrls.ts b/client/src/components/Tool/helpForumUrls.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..26f2febd91a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/components/Tool/helpForumUrls.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+import { computed, Ref } from "vue";
+
+import { components } from "@/api/schema";
+import { useConfigStore } from "@/stores/configurationStore";
+
+export type HelpForumTopic = components["schemas"]["HelpForumTopic"];
+
+export type HelpForumPost = components["schemas"]["HelpForumPost"];
+
+export type HelpForumSearchResponse = components["schemas"]["HelpForumSearchResponse"];
+
+/**
+ * Composable for urls to the galaxy help forum
+ * @param options object with options needed to create the urls
+ * @returns computed url to create a new topic and computed url to link to the search page
+ */
+export function useHelpURLs(options: {
+    title: Ref<string>;
+    category?: Ref<string>;
+    tags?: Ref<string[]>;
+    body?: Ref<string>;
+    query: Ref<string>;
+}) {
+    const configStore = useConfigStore();
+
+    const createNewTopicUrl = computed(() => {
+        const url = new URL("/new-topic", configStore.config.help_forum_api_url);
+
+        const { title, category, tags, body } = options;
+
+        url.searchParams.append("title", title.value);
+
+        if (category?.value) {
+            url.searchParams.append("category", category.value);
+        }
+
+        if (tags?.value) {
+            url.searchParams.append("tags", tags.value.join(","));
+        }
+
+        if (body?.value) {
+            url.searchParams.append("body", body.value);
+        }
+
+        return url;
+    });
+
+    const searchTopicUrl = computed(() => {
+        const url = new URL("/search", configStore.config.help_forum_api_url);
+
+        const { query } = options;
+
+        url.searchParams.append("q", query.value);
+
+        return url;
+    });
+
+    return {
+        createNewTopicUrl,
+        searchTopicUrl,
+    };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create a url that link to the related topic in the galaxy help forum
+ * @param topicId id of the topic
+ * @param slug slug of the topic
+ * @returns url object
+ */
+export function createTopicUrl(topicId: number, slug: string): URL {
+    const configStore = useConfigStore();
+
+    return new URL(`/t/${slug}/${topicId}`, configStore.config.help_forum_api_url);
+}
diff --git a/doc/source/admin/galaxy_options.rst b/doc/source/admin/galaxy_options.rst
index ca5b0730582a..38fe6334a007 100644
--- a/doc/source/admin/galaxy_options.rst
+++ b/doc/source/admin/galaxy_options.rst
@@ -5377,4 +5377,27 @@
 :Type: int
 
 
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+``help_forum_api_url``
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+:Description:
+    The URL pointing to the Galaxy Help Forum API base URL. The API
+    must be compatible with Discourse API
+    (https://docs.discourse.org/).
+:Default: ``https://help.galaxyproject.org/``
+:Type: str
+
+
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+``help_forum_tool_panel_integration_enabled``
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+:Description:
+    Enable the integration of the Galaxy Help Forum in the tool panel.
+    This requires the help_forum_api_url to be set.
+:Default: ``false``
+:Type: bool
+
+
 
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/config/sample/galaxy.yml.sample b/lib/galaxy/config/sample/galaxy.yml.sample
index 2431efd7181c..2bdbe0956431 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/config/sample/galaxy.yml.sample
+++ b/lib/galaxy/config/sample/galaxy.yml.sample
@@ -1,21 +1,21 @@
 # Galaxy is configured by default to be usable in a single-user development
 # environment.  To tune the application for a multi-user production
 # environment, see the documentation at:
-# 
+#
 #  https://docs.galaxyproject.org/en/master/admin/production.html
-# 
+#
 # Throughout this sample configuration file, except where stated otherwise,
 # uncommented values override the default if left unset, whereas commented
 # values are set to the default value.  Relative paths are relative to the root
 # Galaxy directory.
-# 
+#
 # Examples of many of these options are explained in more detail in the Galaxy
 # Community Hub.
-# 
+#
 #   https://galaxyproject.org/admin/config
-# 
+#
 # Config hackers are encouraged to check there before asking for help.
-# 
+#
 # Configuration for Gravity process manager.
 # ``uwsgi:`` section will be ignored if Galaxy is started via Gravity commands (e.g ``./run.sh``, ``galaxy`` or ``galaxyctl``).
 gravity:
@@ -2861,3 +2861,10 @@ galaxy:
   # a Celery task.
   #expired_notifications_cleanup_interval: 86400
 
+  # The URL pointing to the Galaxy Help Forum API base URL. The API must
+  # be compatible with Discourse API (https://docs.discourse.org/).
+  #help_forum_api_url: https://help.galaxyproject.org/
+
+  # Enable the integration of the Galaxy Help Forum in the tool panel.
+  # This requires the help_forum_api_url to be set.
+  #enable_help_forum_tool_panel_integration: false
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/config/schemas/config_schema.yml b/lib/galaxy/config/schemas/config_schema.yml
index 7d12d6ce3a99..f63112d8a2f1 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/config/schemas/config_schema.yml
+++ b/lib/galaxy/config/schemas/config_schema.yml
@@ -3920,3 +3920,19 @@ mapping:
         default: 86400
         desc: |
           The interval in seconds between attempts to delete all expired notifications from the database (every 24 hours by default). Runs in a Celery task.
+
+      help_forum_api_url:
+        type: str
+        required: false
+        default: https://help.galaxyproject.org/
+        per_host: true
+        desc: |
+          The URL pointing to the Galaxy Help Forum API base URL. The API must be compatible with Discourse API (https://docs.discourse.org/).
+
+      enable_help_forum_tool_panel_integration:
+        type: bool
+        required: false
+        default: false
+        per_host: true
+        desc: |
+          Enable the integration of the Galaxy Help Forum in the tool panel. This requires the help_forum_api_url to be set.
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/managers/configuration.py b/lib/galaxy/managers/configuration.py
index 7a955523308d..78b38046d870 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/managers/configuration.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/managers/configuration.py
@@ -218,6 +218,8 @@ def _config_is_truthy(item, key, **context):
             "organization_name": _use_config,
             "organization_url": _use_config,
             "fixed_delegated_auth": _defaults_to(False),
+            "help_forum_api_url": _use_config,
+            "enable_help_forum_tool_panel_integration": _use_config,
         }
 
 
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/schema/help.py b/lib/galaxy/schema/help.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a62a9222744a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/schema/help.py
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+from typing import (
+    Any,
+    List,
+    Optional,
+)
+
+from pydantic import (
+    Extra,
+    Field,
+)
+from typing_extensions import Annotated
+
+from galaxy.schema.schema import Model
+
+# Schema manually typed from https://docs.discourse.org/
+# Discourse has an OpenApi schema (https://docs.discourse.org/openapi.json)
+# but at the time of writing it is mostly untyped, which makes the manually
+# created types preferable.
+
+
+# TODO: remove this class once we have a proper model for all temp models
+class HelpTempBaseModel(Model):
+    class Config:
+        extra = Extra.allow
+
+
+class HelpForumPost(HelpTempBaseModel):
+    """Model for a post in the help forum."""
+
+    id: Annotated[int, Field(description="The ID of the post.")]
+    name: Annotated[str, Field(description="The name of the post.")]
+    username: Annotated[str, Field(description="The username of the post author.")]
+    avatar_template: Annotated[str, Field(description="The avatar template of the user.")]
+    created_at: Annotated[str, Field(description="The creation date of the post.")]
+    like_count: Annotated[int, Field(description="The number of likes of the post.")]
+    blurb: Annotated[str, Field(description="The blurb of the post.")]
+    post_number: Annotated[int, Field(description="The post number of the post.")]
+    topic_id: Annotated[int, Field(description="The ID of the topic of the post.")]
+
+
+class HelpForumTopic(Model):
+    """Model for a topic in the help forum compatible with Discourse API."""
+
+    id: Annotated[int, Field(description="The ID of the topic.")]
+    title: Annotated[str, Field(description="The title of the topic.")]
+    fancy_title: Annotated[str, Field(description="The fancy title of the topic.")]
+    slug: Annotated[str, Field(description="The slug of the topic.")]
+    posts_count: Annotated[int, Field(description="The number of posts in the topic.")]
+    reply_count: Annotated[int, Field(description="The number of replies in the topic.")]
+    highest_post_number: Annotated[int, Field(description="The highest post number in the topic.")]
+    created_at: Annotated[str, Field(description="The creation date of the topic.")]
+    last_posted_at: Annotated[str, Field(description="The date of the last post in the topic.")]
+    bumped: Annotated[bool, Field(description="Whether the topic was bumped.")]
+    bumped_at: Annotated[str, Field(description="The date of the last bump of the topic.")]
+    archetype: Annotated[Any, Field(description="The archetype of the topic.")]
+    unseen: Annotated[bool, Field(description="Whether the topic is unseen.")]
+    pinned: Annotated[bool, Field(description="Whether the topic is pinned.")]
+    unpinned: Annotated[Optional[bool], Field(description="Whether the topic is unpinned.")]
+    visible: Annotated[bool, Field(description="Whether the topic is visible.")]
+    closed: Annotated[bool, Field(description="Whether the topic is closed.")]
+    archived: Annotated[bool, Field(description="Whether the topic is archived.")]
+    bookmarked: Annotated[Optional[bool], Field(description="Whether the topic is bookmarked.")]
+    liked: Annotated[Optional[bool], Field(description="Whether the topic is liked.")]
+    tags: Annotated[List[str], Field(description="The tags of the topic.")]
+    tags_descriptions: Annotated[Optional[Any], Field(description="The descriptions of the tags of the topic.")]
+    category_id: Annotated[int, Field(description="The ID of the category of the topic.")]
+    has_accepted_answer: Annotated[bool, Field(description="Whether the topic has an accepted answer.")]
+
+
+class HelpForumUser(HelpTempBaseModel):
+    """Model for a user in the help forum."""
+
+    pass
+
+
+class HelpForumCategory(HelpTempBaseModel):
+    """Model for a category in the help forum."""
+
+    pass
+
+
+class HelpForumTag(HelpTempBaseModel):
+    """Model for a tag in the help forum."""
+
+    pass
+
+
+class HelpForumGroup(HelpTempBaseModel):
+    """Model for a group in the help forum."""
+
+    pass
+
+
+class HelpForumGroupedSearchResult(HelpTempBaseModel):
+    """Model for a grouped search result."""
+
+    pass
+
+
+class HelpForumSearchResponse(Model):
+    """Response model for the help search API endpoint.
+
+    This model is based on the Discourse API response for the search endpoint.
+    """
+
+    posts: Optional[List[HelpForumPost]]
+    topics: Optional[List[HelpForumTopic]]
+    users: Optional[List[HelpForumUser]]
+    categories: Optional[List[HelpForumCategory]]
+    tags: Optional[List[HelpForumTag]]
+    groups: Optional[List[HelpForumGroup]]
+    grouped_search_result: Optional[HelpForumGroupedSearchResult]
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/help.py b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/help.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c9b8d599b8e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/help.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import logging
+
+from fastapi import Query
+from typing_extensions import Annotated
+
+from galaxy.schema.help import HelpForumSearchResponse
+from galaxy.webapps.galaxy.services.help import HelpService
+from . import (
+    depends,
+    Router,
+)
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+router = Router(tags=["help"])
+
+
+@router.cbv
+class HelpAPI:
+    service: HelpService = depends(HelpService)
+
+    @router.get(
+        "/api/help/forum/search",
+        summary="Search the Galaxy Help forum.",
+    )
+    def search_forum(
+        self,
+        query: Annotated[str, Query(description="Search query to use for searching the Galaxy Help forum.")],
+    ) -> HelpForumSearchResponse:
+        """Search the Galaxy Help forum using the Discourse API.
+
+        **Note**: This endpoint is for **INTERNAL USE ONLY** and is not part of the public Galaxy API.
+        """
+        return self.service.search_forum(query)
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/services/help.py b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/services/help.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..1f20d12286df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/services/help.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import logging
+
+import requests
+
+from galaxy.config import GalaxyAppConfiguration
+from galaxy.exceptions import ServerNotConfiguredForRequest
+from galaxy.schema.help import HelpForumSearchResponse
+from galaxy.security.idencoding import IdEncodingHelper
+from galaxy.webapps.galaxy.services.base import ServiceBase
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class HelpService(ServiceBase):
+    """Common interface/service logic for interactions with Galaxy Help API.
+
+    Provides the logic of the actions invoked by API controllers and uses type definitions
+    and pydantic models to declare its parameters and return types.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        security: IdEncodingHelper,
+        config: GalaxyAppConfiguration,
+    ):
+        super().__init__(security)
+        self.config = config
+
+    def search_forum(self, query: str) -> HelpForumSearchResponse:
+        """Search the Galaxy Help forum using the Discourse API."""
+        if not self.config.enable_help_forum_tool_panel_integration:
+            raise ServerNotConfiguredForRequest(
+                "Integration with the Galaxy Help Forum is not enabled in the configuration."
+            )
+        if not self.config.help_forum_api_url:
+            raise ServerNotConfiguredForRequest("Help forum API URL is not configured.")
+        forum_search_url = f"{self.config.help_forum_api_url}/search.json"
+        response = requests.get(
+            url=forum_search_url,
+            params={
+                "q": query,
+            },
+        )
+        return HelpForumSearchResponse(**response.json())