Singapore-based mobile technology company MindFi has partnered with Labour Movement's Healthcare Academy to offer healthcare workers free access to MindFi's popular mindfulness mobile app. Dubbed 'Mindcare', this social impact initiative looks to benefit more than 90,000 public and community healthcare workers including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, community caregivers and first responders by offering them a free one-year subscription to the app which is available on both iOS and Android devices.
Healthcare Academy is a collaboration among Healthcare Services Employees' Union (HSEU), Employability and Employment Institute (e2i) and NTUC LearningHub (LHUB).
MindFi, which specializes in mindfulness apps and training for individuals and workplaces, claims that its mobile app has had good traction and has been lauded by esteemed practitioners for healthcare industry. For example, in a 2018 research study with Singapore General Hospital involving 40 participants, two in five participants who used the MindFi mobile application over a four-week period had improved mindfulness, which brought about a drop in stress level.
WHY IT MATTERS
The initiative comes on the back of growing pressure on Singapore’s healthcare system to combat the recent upsurge in COVID-19 cases, which has led to equally rising concerns about the well-being of healthcare workers, especially those on the frontlines. To provide support to this community and promote their self-care, the MindFi mobile app provides a diverse content library of mindfulness activities based on categories such as duration and personal goals.
Eligible healthcare workers may visit here to register to activate the free membership.
THE LARGER TREND
Mental health and well-being for healthcare workers have become an increasing concern, given their increased workloads and stress levels in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. For the public at large, partial lockdown measures such as the ‘circuit breaker’ period in Singapore which lasts till 1 June has restricted social movement and interactions, causing stress and anxiety for many who are cooped up at home.
Singapore-based digital health company Intellect has also recently launched a CBT-based therapy app to help those who may be in distress, MobiHealthNews reported.
ON THE RECORD
"In these times of crisis, our public healthcare workers are at the frontline and selflessly doing their part for society. From the comforts of our homes, we want to help these carers care for themselves. We are honored to partner with NTUC Healthcare Academy to launch this targeted initiative. We hope MindFi can be a useful tool for self-care during their brief moments of rest to restore some calm and comfort. We are also in discussions with more partners to broaden our social impact during these trying times," said Bjorn Lee, Founder & CEO of MindFi.
Associate Professor John Wong Chee Meng of National University of Singapore & National University Hospital said, "MindFi is a very calming, haptic and sensual application, bringing into one's private space the art of mindful breathing exercises and calming thoughts. The app is a handy tool everyone can access readily, bringing to awareness our emotional wellbeing wherever we may be calling from."
