Benecard Association Launches Free Three-Month Daily Mindfulness Program From Free Form Minds For Members

Benecard Association teamed up with drug administrator Benecard Services L.L.C. to launch a new three-month meditation program From Free Form Minds at no charge for its members to help address the effects of COVID-19.

With prescriptions for antidepressants spiking 19% and anti-anxiety medications spiking 34% in March alone,¹ it’s clear that the stress of current events is taking its toll, and people need support. For years, Association 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 Association is now offering this same benefit to its members from Benecard Services and their brokers during this difficult time to help make a difference in their lives.

Benecard Association and Benecard Services asked Free Form Minds to make available a three-month program of free daily practices via their app or website for 400 enrollees. We had such a positive response before the registration closed that we first increased the number to 500 open spots and then expanded it again to 600 spots to cover anyone who wanted it from.

Beginning on August 1^st, each day participants 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 are guided through each meditation to help keep them in the moment and present in the practice. 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,² anxiety,³ and rumination,⁴ plus increasing memory and focus.⁴ It has also been shown to reduce blood pressure,⁵  inflammation,⁶ and chronic pain.⁷ 

1 Crist, Carolyn. (2020). Anxiety, Depression Prescriptions Spiked in March. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200417/anxiety-depression-prescriptions-spiked-in-march

2 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).

3 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

4 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

5 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.

6 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.

7 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