Nuffield Health launches free emotional wellbeing online classes to support the nation's wellbeing at home during lockdown
- Overview
- Over half of people (52%) say that their mental health has got worse since the introduction of lockdown measures, according to a YouGov research commissioned by Nuffield Health
- Nuffield Health 24/7 is a free digital fitness and health platform which includes over 150 classes aimed at supporting people’s mental and physical well-being during lockdown
- ‘Introduction to Mindfulness’ and ‘Calm Space’ classes are the first in a series of emotional wellbeing classes to be available on Nuffield Health 24/7
In response to a recent YouGov poll and the continued impact of the pandemic on the nation’s mental health Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity, is launching a series of free emotional wellbeing classes. The classes will feature alongside workout classes and family fitness content on its digital fitness and health platform: Nuffield Health 24/7.
The recent YouGov poll commissioned by us revealed that over half over half of people surveyed (52%) feel that lockdown restrictions have had a negative impact on their mental health, among those groups particularly impacted are women (59%), those aged 25-34 (66%) and household with children (57%)- a figure that is likely to increase given the recent school closure measures announced by the government.
With the nation predominantly confined to their homes during lockdown 3.0, many people are experiencing ongoing fear, uncertainty, isolation, and disruption to their everyday lives which is taking a toll on their mental health. Our new emotional wellbeing sessions aim to give people an easily accessible means to focus on their mental wellbeing as well as their physical wellbeing from their homes at this difficult time.
The first series of classes include mindfulness, relaxation, and stress management in addition to muscle relaxation and deep breathing. The first two classes to go live are ‘Introduction to Mindfulness’ and ‘Calm Space’.
- Introduction to mindfulness- this class introduces people to the basic principles of mindfulness and how to be present and engaged in the moment
- Calm space- this session includes relaxation and helps manage stress using ‘grounding technique’. This technique will aid relaxation, emotional regulation and improved self-awareness, in times of difficulty, using guided imagery and visualisation.
Further classes launching in the coming weeks include; how to integrate mindfulness into everyday activities, progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing and mindful exercise.
Brendan Street, Professional Head of Emotional Wellbeing at Nuffield Health comments: “There is no health without mental health…and good mental health is so much more than the absence of mental ill health. During difficult times it is even more important to invest and our mental health. Our free online Emotional Wellbeing classes have been designed by clinicians, informed by evidence based psychological theories, as step by step way to enhance mental and physical fitness. There are limits to what we can do due to the restrictions caused by COVID-19, but there is a lot we can do to adjust our mental response to these restrictions. Techniques such as Mindfulness can help you become more aware and accepting of your thoughts. Mindfulness also allows us to become more aware of the streams of thoughts and feelings that we experience, and rather than just accept them, notice how we can become entangled in that stream in unhelpful ways…and then, choose not to be. In times of uncertainty this is a really helpful skill.”
For more information on Nuffield Health 24/7 visit: 247.nuffieldhealth.com
Notes to editors:
The full research was based on modelling carried out by YouGov on 2110 representative GB adults and can be downloaded here. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2110 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 17th - 18th November 2020. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
Further information is available on request, alongside high resolution images.
For more information contact the Nuffield Health press office on pressoffice@nuffieldhealth.com or 07775 501647.
About Nuffield Health
Nuffield Health is the UK’s largest healthcare charity. For the last 60 years, Nuffield Health’s experts have been working together to make the nation fitter, healthier, happier and stronger, all for the public benefit. As an organisation with no shareholders, income is invested back into the vision to build a healthier nation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nuffield Health has treated over 220,000 NHS patients in its UK network of hospitals. These NHS patients include Covid-19 positive patients, those needing intensive care or oxygen support, cancer treatment (shielding vulnerable patients from Covid-19), urgent surgery and palliative (end of life) care.
The Charity does this through its day-to-day services across 31 award-winning hospitals, 112 fitness and wellbeing clubs, healthcare clinics, and over 200 workplace wellbeing services, and through flagship programmes to support communities by widening access. Through these flagship programmes, we aim to help to improve people’s lives people who normally would not have access to Nuffield Health’s services. One of these flagship programmes is developing the UK’s first specialist rehabilitation programme to support patients in their recovery after they have received medical treatment for COVID-19. The programme, which blends together physical therapy and mental health support, is being piloted in NHS trusts across the UK, ahead of a potential national rollout.
Nuffield Health delivers a sector-leading 94% of hospitals rated as good or outstanding by national regulators. With a breadth of expertise, Nuffield Health provides connected care spanning from personal training and health MOTs to supporting people on their fitness journeys, helping patients recover with physiotherapy or emotional wellbeing counselling, or providing hospital treatments for illness and serious conditions like arthritis or cancer.
Last updated Monday 18 January 2021
First published on Monday 18 January 2021