ORLANDO, Florida—Digital mental health platform SilverCloud Health is expanding its programs to address family mental health concerns.
The digital health company, now part of telehealth provider Amwell, launched a six-course program suite featuring programs, content, interactive tools and videos aimed at addressing the mental health needs of new parents, teenagers, children and their families.
“The pandemic coupled with global times of uncertainty have put an immense amount of pressure on almost all families—yet there is an alarming lack of effective, accessible, solutions available today that address the needs for the whole family,” said Ken Cahill, general manager of SilverCloud Health, in a statement.
“Resources are needed now more than ever as households across the U.S. struggle as a result of the global pandemic, and we’re extremely proud to introduce these programs, tools and videos in an effort to help fill these gaps for families at various stages of life. With the introduction of our family support suite, participants will learn about the importance of seeking help, setting goals and self-care, all while building strong support networks in an effort to establish long-lasting, positive results.”
The new family programs, tools and videos were piloted through California’s MemorialCare, a provider that offers integrated primary and behavioral health care.
“On top of addressing this need, SilverCloud Health’s approach to helping our patients build the skill sets they need to achieve success long after the program is over is critically important," Schafer said.
Boston-based SilverCloud Health was born out of over a decade of research, according to the company. Launched in 2012, SilverCloud provides a range of digital cognitive behavioral health programs for healthcare systems and providers, health plans and employers. The company's digital self-guided mental health programs provide patients with customized content programs and support to treat more than 10 specific conditions including anxiety, depression, chronic stress, sleep insomnia and grief and loss.
SilverCloud is being used by over 500 organizations globally to meet their populations’ mental health needs.
Amwell scooped up SilverCloud Health, along with Conversa Health, for $320 million to expand the company's services beyond telehealth visits.
The family mental health programs are delivered digitally, helping also improve access to care for those in need, according to the company. Leveraging SilverCloud Health’s unique and clinically validated internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, the programs deliver mental health care—at scale—and support.
The programs target families just getting started, as 20% of women and approximately 10% of men are affected by perinatal anxiety/depression.
However, many programs are still created with a single-gender focus or a focus on just one part of the pregnancy experience, often postpartum, according to executives. The Space for Early Parenting program focuses on those who are experiencing, or may be at risk of experiencing, subthreshold symptoms of depression and/or anxiety during the duration of the perinatal period.
Another digital program targets caregivers and guardians of children and teenagers. Studies show that nearly 1 in 5 of those aged 3-17 experience a mental health disorder each year, but because of barriers to accessing and seeking care, most go undiagnosed and untreated. In the midst of the current adolescent health crisis, resources have been even more limited as it pertains to the availability of mental health professionals, SilverCloud Health executives said.
Other programs are designed to support children and teens who are dealing with worry and anxiety and incorporate elements of cognitive behavioral therapy such as psychoeducation, relaxation and gradual exposure, with the aim of enabling the child to identify their anxiety, and to apply their skills in anxiety-provoking situations.