The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) is offering three separate but complimentary digital mental health and wellbeing programmes for parents/care givers and children affected by mental health issues. Two of the programmes are available to parents/carers of either anxious children or teens, while the third is aimed at teenagers experiencing low to moderate levels of anxiety.
The initiative is aimed at parents and children who are on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) waiting list; however, the programmes are open to all who wish to avail of them free of charge.
They are based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and have been created by SilverCloud, a leading digital mental health provider. Delivery of the programmes is supported by the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention as part of Connecting for Life, Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide.
Ms Susan Nicholson, who completed the ‘Supporting an anxious child’ programme after her GP recommended that her daughter Lauren attend CAMHS, described the benefits she and her daughter gained.
“I wanted to do something that would help our family to support Lauren. The programme encouraged to me to look at the positives, rather than focusing on the effects of her anxiety. Going through the programme, you could see what other parents were going through and you’re able to relate to their challenges. To know that other people are going through is very helpful. As a parent, you’re supposed to know all the answers, and it’s scary.
“Starting the programme was such an easy process. I liked the fact that it was anonymous, nobody knew me and I didn’t have to go to a meeting in person. It was such a personal experience – in a good way. I didn’t feel like I was just another number.”
The programmes include interactive tools, activities, mood monitors, and journals to encourage users to apply CBT to their own lives. Users have 12 weeks in which to complete the programme under the guidance of a volunteer, known as a supporter, and can avail of an unsupported version of the programme for one year after this time.
To find out more, go to www.ispcc.ie/guided-digital-programmes/.
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