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Mindfulness Program Launches at Mid Coast Hospital

January 14, 2016

Mindfulness Program Launches at Mid Coast Hospital

 Brunswick, ME – The Mid Coast Center for Community Health & Wellness is offering a new program designed to help people better cope with stress and life’s challenges. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an eight-week intensive program that teaches mindfulness, an awareness that arises by intentionally paying attention to the present moment.

 Through direct practice in mindful meditation, mindful movement, instruction, and conversation, MBSR participants learn to cultivate mindfulness, which may help them to identify healthy ways of coping with stress, regulate their emotions, improve psychological flexibility, enhance interpersonal relationships, and enhance overall health and wellbeing.

 Ben Tipton, PA-C, is one of three MBSR instructors at Mid Coast Hospital. “We know that the practice of mindfulness can reduce stress related to chronic illness, physical pain, and emotional suffering,” he commented. “MBSR will assist participants with overcoming stressors that may be impacting their physical wellbeing.”

To launch the MBSR program, Mid Coast Hospital is offering three, 8-week classes on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday evenings beginning the week of February 8. The course is taught in 2.5 hour weekly group classes and one 6-hour weekend retreat. The program will offer classes throughout the year.

“We are very excited to offer the MBSR program to our community,” said Cate Parker, MS, RN, Associate Director of Community Health and Wellness at Mid Coast Hospital. “Our goal is to encourage community members to explore alternate ways of improving their health. MBSR is a challenging and life-affirming program that can have significant impact on one’s overall health and wellness.”

 In addition to the community class offered at Mid Coast Hospital, the Community Health & Wellness team has partnered with Access Health, the local Healthy Maine Partnership to provide the MBSR class to local teens at Brunswick High School and Mt. Ararat High School. The MBSR-T program is made available to local schools using funding from the Maine Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services.

 Access Health Director Melissa Fochesato commented, “Through our ongoing work with local schools, we have identified stress and anxiety as a trigger for teen substance use. We are delighted to partner with Mid Coast’s Community Health and Wellness team to offer a slightly modified, teen version of the MBSR program. MBSR-T will teach local youth a healthy, effective method of dealing with life’s pressures to help keep our kids healthy and reduce substance use.”

More information about the MBSR program is available by calling (207) 386-1888, or online at midcoasthealth.com/wellness.  About Mid Coast Hospital: Mid Coast Hospital is a full-service, 93-bed, independent, not-for-profit hospital governed by a community Board of Directors. The active medical staff includes more than 200 providers in over 30 primary care and specialty areas. Mid Coast Hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission, and is recognized as a Magnet™ facility by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for exceptional nursing and patient care.

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