Effectively treating kids with mental health challenges commonly requires involving parents. However, options for whole family mental healthcare can be limited. To help fill such gaps in mental healthcare, SilverCloud Health, part of Amwell, rolled out a new digital suite of programs that the company believes will address family mental health needs. The company, unveiled the service at HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition in Orlando this week.

“Mental health in the United States is a pretty fractured, complicated system,” said Luke Raymond, head of the U.S. health systems strategic business unit for Boston-based SilverCloud Health, during a sit-down interview at HIMSS22. “It’s difficult to access and difficult for families to understand.”

Digital mental health solutions have ballooned during the pandemic as social isolation resulted in depressed anxious adults and children. But accessing mental health specialists have been difficult especially with long wait times to see a psychiatrist.

As an alternative, digital mental health solutions allow people to get the necessary support whenever and wherever they need it, said Raymond, who was trained as a counselor. Specifically, SilverCloud’s new offering features programs, content, interactive tools and videos aimed at addressing family mental health.

That includes help for expectant parents and new parents experiencing mood issues during pregnancy or following a child’s birth. Using internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, new parents can learn to better understand their thoughts, feelings and behaviors and implement positive changes. The goal is to bolster parents’ well-being from conception until a year after the birth of a child, according to the company.

Virtual educational resources and cognitive behavioral therapy strategies are also offered to assist parents of children and teens suffering from anxiety and depression, which has increased during the pandemic.

One of six course offerings in the Family Support Suite is “Supporting an Anxious Child.” The course is designed to help caregivers with children ages 5 to 11 who are dealing with worry and anxiety, while also offering helpful strategies parents can employ to tackle their own anxiety. The program incorporates elements of cognitive behavioral therapy like education around their mental health concern and relaxation with a goal of enabling the child to identify their anxiety and to apply their skills in anxiety-provoking situations, according to SilverCloud.

Teens can also access the digital resources directly.

“We have programs and content specifically designed (for what children and families need) that they can access that can help them manage their depression and anxiety,” Raymond said. “It’s all cognitive behavioral therapy-based, which is the most evidence-based type of intervention for depression, anxiety and stress.”

The new family programs, tools and videos were piloted through MemorialCare, an integrated primary and behavioral healthcare provider in California.

“SilverCloud Health’s approach to helping our patients build the skillsets they need to achieve success long after the program is over is critically important,” said Dr. Mark Schafer, CEO of MemorialCare Medical Group, in at statement.

Photo: Alisa Zahoruiko, Getty Images