Six of Wales’ seven health boards now have direct referral pathways to SilverCloud’s online mental health platform as the service continues to expand.
SilverCloud Wales offers a suite of guided, self-help programmes based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for managing a range of mental health issues.
The perinatal department at Hywel Dda University Health Board is the latest team to partner with the service.
Other recent new joiners include Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s Children, Young People and Family Health Service, and the Child Psychology team at Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBUHB).
Swansea’s pioneering psychological service within the Lymphoedema Wales Clinical Network also recently began referring, and Betsi Cadwaladr – the one remaining health board to establish a referral pathway – is working towards direct access this year.
NHS Wales’ Online CBT project manager Fionnuala Clayton said: “This has been a collaborative effort and it is testament to the determination of teams across Wales to bring the benefits of SilverCloud’s programmes to their patients. The more referral pathways we can establish, the more patients we can support.
“We know from experience that people are more likely to sign up to a course if they’re referred to the service via a GP or other health practitioner.
“Of course, practitioners in any part of Wales are welcome to signpost people to the Online CBT Service, but where direct referral is available, it’s important that it’s used over simple signposting to promote joined-up care.”
Dr Jayne Williams, National Lymphoedema Consultant Psychologist for LWCN said: “As SilverCloud is online, it has the capacity to reach many more people than we could see face-to-face, and its flexibility means that it fits around busy work and family lives.
“Being able to offer something that patients can do in their own way, at their own pace is brilliant.”
Dr Rebecca Saltmarsh, from SBUHB’s Child Psychology team, said: “SilverCloud has been really welcomed by Child Psychologists in Swansea Bay.
“We are aware that, for some young people, being able to access an evidence-based therapeutic programme from their own home, at the time that is most convenient for them, can be extremely beneficial.
“The programmes are well-grounded in CBT theory but are presented in engaging ways, suitable for young people’s developmental needs, so are both accessible and practical.”
Data shows that service users are twice as likely to complete the SilverCloud sign up process when they are supported by a referring practitioner.
Numbers of people referred to the service last year were up almost a quarter on 2023 figures.
SilverCloud programmes ‘Space from Depression and Anxiety’, ‘Space from Anxiety’ and ‘Space from Stress’ remained the three most popular courses on the platform last year.
Overall, sign-ups to SilverCloud Wales increased 7% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
The trend looks set to continue with a 7.8% increase reported for the first two months of 2025, compared with the same period last year.
Said Fionnuala: “The Welsh Government is eager to encourage the use of online solutions which support people to look after their health and wellbeing.
“We’re passionate about being part of these ambitions by providing timely, equitable access to digital mental health support.”
SilverCloud’s programmes provide support for mild-to-moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, sleep problems and more.
Anyone in Wales aged 16 or over can self-refer to the service without seeing a GP and from the comfort of their own home.
There’s also help for young people and students and for parents and carers supporting anxious children.
Find out more or sign up to the service at: https://nhswales.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/
Released: 21/03/2025