HSE: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy | SilverCloud

Clinically proven Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) programmes available to your patients for free.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has partnered with SilverCloud® by Amwell® to provide your patients with 6-8 week guided online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) programmes, accessible 24/7, from any device.

What we do

We empower individuals to think and feel better through personalised, guided programmes matched to participants’ needs. Individuals can access the SilverCloud® platform confidentially and in the privacy of an app on their mobile, tablet, or computer.

The platform can be used as a standalone skill-building tool to manage mental health and wellness, whilst a patient/client is awaiting a service, in conjunction with an existing intervention, or as a recovery toolkit post therapy.

Our awards

Public Sector Digital Transformation Awards 2023

Health tech innovation of the year Winners

National Healthtech Innovation Awards 2023

Most transformative use of information technology Winners

Irish Healthcare Awards 2023

Mental health initiative of the year Highly commended

SilverCloud platform: accessible and clinically proven care

The SilverCloud platform is evidence-based and clinically validated with over 45,000 referrals in Ireland to date.
It is available to your patients 24/7 and can be accessed easily from any device.
SilverCloud® programmes are available to your patients for free, regardless of their medical card status.

How to refer

Introduce your patient to the service

We developed an informative landing page, designed to help you introduce SilverCloud® by Amwell® to you patients and guide them through our service experience.

Refer your patients securely

Send your referral via:

Healthlink
Healthmail to SilverCloud@healthmail.ie using your Healthmail, @hse.ie or @jigsaw.ie email address
eReferral pathway coming soon

Patient referral invitation

Once your referral is processed, our team will issue an email invitation to your patient, with a link to create an account on the SilverCloud platform.

Guided patient support

Once onboarded, your patient will be able to start using their programme. They will be assigned a Supporter, who will guide them through their journey by sending them weekly written reviews on their progress, via the platform.

SilverCloud Programme Suitability

All patients/clients must:

Be aged 18+
Reside in the Republic of Ireland
Have internet access
Have good literacy and computer literacy skills

Suitable:

Mild to moderate levels of Anxiety and/or Depression
Disturbed sleep
Panic attacks
High self-efficacy
Openness to guided self-help

Not suitable:

Acute distress
Severe mental health difficulties / had inpatient stays
Thought or plans to end their own life / had recent suicide attempts
Low expectations or feeling hopeless about guided self-help

Available Programmes

There are 5 programmes available to your patients as part of the HSE partnership. All modules include elements of psychoeducation, CBT based behavioural activation, cognitive restructuring techniques, and relaxation/mindfulness.

Anxiety Programme

The Anxiety programme consists of 8 modules that contain content, tools, and activities to help people alleviate their psychological distress arising from anxiety-related symptomology. The programme has been developed to help users manage their feelings and the causes of them, ultimately offering a welcome space from anxiety.

Download programme descriptor](https://silvercloud.amwell.com/siteassets/documents/hse/anxiety-programme-for-clinicians.pdf "Anxiety Programme")

Depression Programme

The Depression programme consists of 8 modules that contain content, tools and activities to help people relieve their symptoms of depression. The programme aims to:
\

Encourage the development of more flexible ways of thinking.\
Increase awareness and understanding of emotions.\
Increase activity and motivation in daily life.

Download programme descriptor](https://silvercloud.amwell.com/siteassets/documents/hse/depression-silvercloud-for-clinicians.pdf "Depression Programme")

Depression & Anxiety programme

This programme consists of 10 modules that contain content, tools and activities to help people alleviate their psychological distress arising from depression and anxiety-related symptomology. The programme aims to:
\

Encourage the development of more flexible ways of thinking\
Increase awareness and understanding of emotions\
Increase activity and motivation in daily life

Download programme descriptor](https://silvercloud.amwell.com/siteassets/documents/hse/depression-and-anxiety-pager-for-clinicians.pdf "Depression & Anxiety programme")

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Programme

The GAD programme consists of 8 modules that contain content, tools, and activities to help people relieve their symptoms of GAD by:
\

Focusing on developing more flexible ways of thinking.\
Increasing awareness and understanding of emotions.\
Increasing understanding of the role of worry in GAD.\
Focusing on problem-solving strategies to cope more effectively with worry.

Download programme descriptor](https://silvercloud.amwell.com/siteassets/documents/hse/anxiety-programme-for-clinicians.pdf "Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Programme")

Sleep Issues Programme

The Sleep Issues Programme targets sleep difficulties through CBT techniques, psychoeducation, and behavioral strategies, emphasizing healthy sleep habits, evening routines, and sleep/wake associations. It includes sleep restriction and progressive muscle relaxation but is not suitable for those with bipolar disorder, untreated sleep apnea, parasomnias, or seizure disorders.

Download programme descriptor](https://silvercloud.amwell.com/siteassets/documents/hse/silvercloud-sleep-issues-programme.pdf "Sleep Issues Programme")

In the video:

A Message from Our HSE Stakeholders

Key stakeholders from the Health Service Executive share deeper insights into the national service, highlighting core messages for their clinician peers.

Dr Aoife O’Sullivan (GP & ICGP HSE Primary Care Lead, Mental Health) shares an overview of SilverCloud; an evidence-based supported CBT service now available for patients in Ireland with mild-to-moderate levels of depression and anxiety.
Dr. Aoife Kearney, Senior Clinical Psychologist (Primary Care Psychology) shares her perspective on embracing a new service like SilverCloud to the benefit of her patients.
Fiona Ward (Director of Counselling, HSE National Counselling Service) shares how trust is built within the program, and how the clinician support role is crucial for identifying and responding to any risk issues.
Derek Chambers (General Manager, Policy Implementation, HSE Mental Health Operations) describes the partnership between HSE and SilverCloud in more detail, noting that this service brings a unique approach in democratising access to mental health supports while also tackling long waiting lists for traditional services.

Clinical Governance & Risk Management

Hear from Dr. Corinne Pearson (Clinical Lead and Clinical Psychologist) as she describes the service’s clinical governance for all patients entering the service. You will hear about how your patients are supported by her team, ensuring all patients are not left at risk and can receive further intervention if needed.

Dr. Aoife O’Sullivan shares how important it is for GPs to consider digital mental health interventions as an alternative to long waiting lists.

Resources

December 2025National Guided Digital CBT Service Report

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the SilverCloud service, drawing on insights from over 55,000 adult referrals in Ireland since the project launched in mid-2021.

Download HSE report 2025](https://silvercloud.amwell.com/siteassets/documents/hse/silvercloud-hse-annual-report-2025.pdf "National Guided Digital CBT Service Report")

December 2024National Guided Digital CBT Service Report

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the SilverCloud service, drawing on insights from over 20,000 adult users in Ireland since the project launched in mid-2021.

Download HSE report 2024](https://silvercloud.amwell.com/siteassets/documents/hse/silvercloud-HSE-national-guided-digital-CBT-service-report-december-2024.pdf "National Guided Digital CBT Service Report")

August 2023National Guided Digital CBT Service Report

This is the fourth evaluation of the HSE’s national digital CBT service by SilverCloud, aimed at expanding mental health care access in Ireland.

Download HSE report 2023](https://silvercloud.amwell.com/siteassets/documents/hse/silvercloud-HSE-guided-digital-CBT-service-report-2023.pdf "National Guided Digital CBT Service Report")

November 2022National Guided Digital CBT Service Report

This report evaluates the HSE’s national digital CBT service by SilverCloud® to improve mental health care access in Ireland.

Download HSE report 2022](https://silvercloud.amwell.com/siteassets/documents/hse/silvercloud-HSE-guided-digital-CBT-service-report-november-2022.pdf "National Guided Digital CBT Service Report")

2024/25HSE Clinician's Handbook

SilverCloud by Amwell, in partnership with the HSE, offers Guided Digital CBT programs for you and your patients nationwide.

Download clinician's handbook](https://silvercloud.amwell.com/siteassets/documents/hse/silvercloud-HSE-clinician-handboook-national-guided-digital-CBT-services-2024-25.pdf "HSE Clinician's Handbook")

Online mental health support that works

Empower your patients with SilverCloud by Amwell's online therapy programs, designed to help them take control and cope more effectively.

Download clinic poster](https://silvercloud.amwell.com/siteassets/documents/hse/free-access-to-supported-online-mental-health-programmes-that-work.pdf "Online mental health support that works")

Give your patients fast access to mental health programmes

Our platform delivers evidence-based digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

programmes that support your patients/clients in thinking and feeling better.

Download clinician leaflet](https://silvercloud.amwell.com/siteassets/documents/hse/give-your-patients-fast--access-to-supported-mental-health-programmes.pdf "Give your patients fast access to mental health programmes")

Meet a referrer

The SilverCloud service has been a God send for my Practice! Having seamless access to high quality psychological support, free at the point of care and accessible at a time and place convenient for the patient is both remarkable and commendable. Feedback from patients has been very positive to date. I find it invaluable.

Dr. Deirdre McGonagle

General Practitioner

SilverCloud is well used in our service, and it works so well alongside our outreach programmes and outpatient service to assist with keeping clients in their own homes and de-escalating any distress endured. Feedback from clients who have completed the programme has been 100% positive, using words to describe the course as “amazing – fantastic” etc.

Sandra McCrudden

Community Mental Health Nurse

Meet a supporter

What I love most about being a Supporter is how my role is centred around creating a safe space for people to work through the programme and encourage and support them through it.

Jane

Supporter

My favourite part about being a Supporter is being there for someone through a really difficult time. Seeing them learn new insights and skills is very rewarding.

Louise