The Mindfulness Community of Practice and Mindfulness Support Group programs seek to increase caregiver compassion, mindfulness, engagement, and resilience by making mindfulness accessible to everyone at all levels of readiness. Sponsored by the Compassionate Care Team, these programs support grassroots involvement with mindfulness practice, from beginners to experienced practitioners of mindfulness. The programs recruit and train practitioners interested in sharing and teaching.
Scientifically, mindfulness has been shown to have tremendous impact, supporting presence with others, emotional wellbeing, focus and performance, and physiological processes. It is one intervention addressing caregiver burnout, promoting resilience and compassion.
In the past 18 months, Mindfulness Support Group attendance has increased exponentially and the new options to engage with the resources have been added, including daily noon sessions, 30-Day Challenges, and specific local offerings. The program has increased awareness of mental health needs among our caregivers and providers and how important it is to practice self-awareness and compassion as we begin to unpack the events, emotions, as well as the physical and emotional toll of the past year. These challenges have included fluctuating staff levels, changes in workflow, and increased demands of adhering to safety protocols, all while trying to balance family, relationships, and work. This heavy load has drastically altered our ability to be present with our patients, colleagues, family members, and even ourselves.
| 2020 | 2021 (as of May) | |
| Average Mindfulness Support Group participants per week | 57 | 106 |
| Total participants | 2,293 | 2,142 |
Caregiver testimonials
“Love being part of this community. It is inclusive and nonjudgmental. Everyone is accepted.”
“This experience has been superb, from top to bottom. Having this opportunity has really been a key to my success this last year throughout the upheaval that the pandemic has caused.”
“Constant overthinking is a problem I’ve faced. I find it hard to get out of my own head when I’m alone, which is why I really appreciate guided meditation, as focusing on someone else speaking allows me to empty my thoughts.”
Facilitator training
In 2020, the program launched Mindfulness Facilitator Training to train caregivers to create and offer mindful opportunities in their local areas, for their teams and colleagues. This has increased accessibility for caregivers to learn and step into practice during times they are at work, developing a felt sense of presence, centeredness and community. Mindful practice helps caregivers to find pause in their lives to bring their best self forward and best work to the organization.
Mindfulness program lessons
- Creating accessible and consistent time and space for caregivers to pause is essential.
- Coming together in community can be renewing and helpful as we rebuild post-pandemic, even if it is virtual.
- Mindfulness allows us to turn inward for a time to reduce reactivity in the thoughts, emotions, and in the body, and allows choices to emerge in our daily interactions.
- Starting a practice can feel difficult, but the best way to start is just start!
More info
Daily Mindfulness Support Groups – Monday-Friday, 12:05-12:25 p.m.
- Join the meeting | +1 509-904-0815
- Conference ID: 822 124 658#
Join the Mindfulness Community of Practice or visit the Mindfulness site.