Boost for online mental health service through new referral pathways
Posted on behalf of SilverCloud
Departments at three health boards have established new referral pathways with NHS Wales’ online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) team as the service continues to expand.
The Cardiff University Psychiatry Service (CUPS) – a joint venture with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board – is now able to refer patients receiving treatment for depression and related conditions.
Swansea Bay University Health Board’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is also now referring, with Swansea’s Child Psychology team due to come on board imminently.
Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Primary Care Liason Team is the third of the latest departments to onboard.
The NHS Wales’ online CBT service is powered by digital healthcare provider SilverCloud®.
CUPS senior clinical research fellow, Dr Rhys Bevan Jones, said: “We see people from across Wales and most of our appointments are online.
“SilverCloud has the benefit of being really accessible, and it’s something that our patients can do in their own time between checking in with us.
“Being able to refer them directly means they’re far more likely to engage than with signposting alone.”
The new pathways mean that departments in six of Wales’ seven health boards are now able to refer patients to the service, which is managed by Powys Teaching Health Board.
Online CBT project manager Fionnuala Clayton said work was ongoing to implement pathways with the remaining board, as well as implement further teams across all seven.
Fionnuala said “Some people need a little extra help navigating mental health support.
“A clinician referral streamlines the process, provides added reassurance and enables digital intervention to be integrated into a patient’s overall care plan.”
30,000 people have accessed support from SilverCloud Wales, which is funded by the Welsh government, since it was piloted by PTHB in 2018.
The platform offers 12-week programmes for managing a broad range of mental health issues, including stress, anxiety, depression and sleep problems.
Progress is monitored by trained supporters, who provide fortnightly feedback and can escalate more serious cases to access further help.
Anyone in Wales aged 16+ can self-refer to Silver Cloud for free without seeing a GP or joining waiting lists.
Fionnuala said “Collaboration has been key to the success of the service, and we’ll continue to bolster our links with existing partners as well as working towards bringing the remaining two on board.”
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