Members must sign up by Friday, July 31st to enroll
Benecard Services, L.L.C. has launched a new three-month meditation program at no charge for its clients, their members, and benefit advisors to help address the effects of COVID-19.
In March alone, Benecard saw a 13% increase in claims for anti-anxiety medications and a 9% increase in claims for antidepressants. It is clear that the stress of current events is taking its toll, and people need support.
For years, Benecard employees have experienced the positive outcomes and health benefits of a daily mindfulness practice, which team members do from their offices and now homes. They receive daily guided instruction from Free Form Minds, a company focused on bringing the benefits of mindfulness to organizations. Benecard is now offering this same benefit to its members, clients, and brokers during this difficult time to help make a difference in their lives.
Benecard asked Free Form Minds to make available a three-month program of free daily practices available via the Free Form Minds app or website for 400 enrollees. Due to the overwhelming interest of the program, we have increased the amount of enrollees from 400 to 500. Each day, participants will receive a short video introducing them to mindfulness and easing them into the habit of daily mindfulness meditation practice. The program then progresses to incorporate weekly themes, such as stress, focus, or gratitude. Participants will be guided through each meditation to help keep them in the moment and present in the practice.
“We are living in unprecedented times with heightened anxieties, fears, and frustrations,” says COO Kevin Kroll. “With the partnership and help of Free Form Minds, we hope this free service will alleviate some of the pressures on our members, clients, and brokers – both professionally and personally.”
In a world full of distractions, reactions, competing priorities, and stress, mindfulness is a practice that helps people observe rather than react. The practice involves bringing attention to the present moment, while noticing thoughts and feelings and the things happening around us in an accepting and non-judgmental way. According to various studies, mindfulness has proven benefits in reducing stress 1, anxiety 2, and rumination 3, plus increasing memory and focus 3. It has also been shown to reduce blood pressure 4, inflammation 5, and chronic pain 6.
How to Sign Up Your Company
Interested in signing up yourself or your company? Send us an e-mail with the subject line: “Sign Up My Company” and we’ll send you the sign up link to share with your members so they can join this free 3-month program. Hurry, time to sign up ends on Friday, July 31st. Meditation practice begins on August 1, 2020.
Sources:
1 Hyland, P. K., Lee, R. A., & Mills, M. J. (2015). Mindfulness at work: A new approach to improving individual and organizational performance. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, 8(4), 576-602. The authors cite over ten studies to conclude that mindfulness reduces stress “across job types, mindfulness trainings, and employee stress levels” (p. 586).
2 Hoge EA, Bui E, Marques L, Metcalf CA, Morris LK, Robinaugh DJ, Worthington JJ, Pollack MH, Simon NM. (2013). Randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation for generalized anxiety disorder: effects on anxiety and stress reactivity. J Clin Psychiatry, 74(8): 786-92. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23541163
3 Davis, Daphne M., PhD; and Hayes, Jeffrey A., PhD. (2012). What are the benefits of mindfulness? American Psychological Association, Vol 43, No. 7, Page 64. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/ce-corner
4 Bhasin, M. K., Denninger, J. W., Huffman, J. C., Joseph, M. G., Halsey, N., Chad-Friedman, Libermann, T. A. (2018). Specific transcriptome changes associated with blood pressure reduction in hypertensive patients after relaxation response training. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
5 Kaliman, P., Álvarez-López, M. J., Cosín-Tomás, M., Rosenkranz, M. A., Lutz, A., & Davidson, R. J. (2014). Rapid changes in histone deacetylases and inflammatory gene expression in expert meditators. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 40, 96-107.
6 Uptmor, Andrea, MA, MFA; and Delagran, Louise, MA, Med. (2020). Mindfulness for Physical Pain. University of Minnesota. https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/mindfulness-physical-pain