GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Spectrum Health has partnered with Headspace in an effort to positively impact the mental health of their team members, officials announced Wednesday, Oct. 7
Headspace is considered a global leader in meditation and mindfulness through its mediation app and online content offerings.
More than 31,000 Spectrum Health employees will now have access to a free subscription to Headspace. The app will also be available at no cost to administrators at more than 30 school districts across West Michigan.
“With so many unknowns and so much stress in the world, mental health is more important now than ever,” said Pam Ries, chief human resources officer at Spectrum Health, in a press release statement.
“The pandemic has been tough on everyone but has been especially difficult for health care team members who are on the frontline and those who are working remotely and feeling isolated.”
While access for all employees is fairly new, more than 1,000 staff members have used the app subscription to support their wellness journey.
The Headspace app is designed to improve health through guided mediations, articles and videos. There is a large selection of content on stress and anxiety, work and productivity and sleep aids.
In a pilot program started in the spring of 2020, some Spectrum Health clinicians have been prescribing Headspace and other apps to patients. There are plans to expand the program this fall, starting with primary care offices.
Mindfulness meditation can positively impact factors related to burnout that physicians face, including stress and depression.
According to the press release, Headspace research shows a 14 percent reduction in burnout after four sessions among health care professionals and 12 percent reduction in stress among medical students after 30 days.
“Health care professionals need to be at their best to better serve their communities,” said Dr. Kristin Jacob, medical director of the Office of Physician and APP Fulfilment at Spectrum Health.
“We encourage our physicians, APPs and all caregivers to take a few minutes throughout the day to be mindful of their own well-being. The Headspace app offers realistic and practical tools in which to accomplish this.”
More than 1,100 companies offer Headspace to their employees as a health benefit. The app has reached more than 65 million worldwide users.
“Our mission is to improve the health and happiness of the world, and part of that vision includes advancing the field of mindfulness meditation through clinically validated research, and normalizing mindfulness in medicine, for healthcare professionals and patients alike, so that we can make an impact with the communities that need us most," said Megan Jones Bell, chief science and strategy officer at Headspace.
Additional information about Headspace is available at headspace.com.
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