Be Mindful with Guildford Borough Council

Summary

Guildford Borough Council expanded its wellbeing resources to provide more choice and better opportunities for staff to find the mental health solution best suited to their individual needs.

In 2019, with the local government heading into phases of restructuring, the Council sought evidence-based wellbeing solutions, in addition to 24/7 counselling offered by an EAP. Particular focus was placed on tools that helped reduce and manage stress and increased resilience, so employees were better equipped to cope during the changes.

Assessing a range of solutions that covered topics such as diet, physical exercise, meditation and mindfulness, the practicalities of scheduling group sessions at times suitable for attendees became a clear challenge. Having satisfied the Council’s high IG and IS standards, the Be Mindful digital mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program was included in the options offered to staff, providing a highly flexible alternative to group sessions.

Council employees self-register to gain immediate access to the Be Mindful web-app via a bespoke webpage, accessed via the staff intranet. Participants are able to complete the clinically proven course at their own pace, irrespective of location or schedule, and do so with complete confidentiality.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many staff members found adjusting to working remotely a challenge. In particular, younger employees struggled with the impact of enforced isolation. The availability of the Be Mindful program provided an accessible and effective option, allowing staff to self-manage and improve their own mental health, and their managers to monitor staff wellbeing.