Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 15 November 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills

Mental Health Supports in Schools and Tertiary Education

Ms Fiona Jennings:

I have two things to add. Mr. Chambers covered a lot about how we deliver on the SilverCloud programme. The Senator asked about the comparison between online and offline cognitive behavioural therapy. Again, it is not for everybody and it is one type of therapy. However, a US case study reported that for mild to moderate depression and anxiety, SilverCloud's iCBT-based digital mental health platform was able to generate up to a 65% plus reduction in clinically significant symptom scores. For the children and young people we have been supporting on it, they are supported over eight to 12 weeks with weekly check-ins and reviews. When they complete the programme they still have access to it and to the tools for up to a year after registering.