Franciscan Health launches challenge to improve mental health

The past year has been an assault on everyone’s health — mental and physical.

People endured lockdowns, social distancing, virtual school and Zoom meetings. Nearly every aspect of life during the pandemic was flipped upside down. The National Health Interview Survey, taken in January, revealed that four in 10 adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, compared to one in 10 prior to the pandemic.

Even as things seem to be getting better, people are still struggling. To address the stress and strain that remains, Franciscan Health has created a new program to help people mentally recharge and re-center their frame of mind.

"Do Good. Feel Good" is a 30-day challenge aimed at motivating people to change their habits and their outlook. Participants in the free program will receive daily emails or text messages with inspirational ideas for small shifts that will improve their minds, bodies and spirits in the coming weeks.

For Franciscan Health officials, creating this program was imperative after the brutal nature of 2020.

"As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to help people with the overall wellness. We don’t have to just serve them when they’re sick," said Jim Slavo, CRM Manager for Franciscan Health. "So the goal with this program is to just help them refocus, recenter and reframe after a crazy time with the pandemic."

"Do Good. Feel Good" rests on a foundation of six components: gratitude, journaling, exercise, devotionals, meditation and random acts of kindness. Collectively, those aspects work together to provide people with a fresh start and solid base for changing their lives.

The program is based on research from the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Scientists at the center have been leaders of a new branch of study exploring the roots of happy and compassionate individuals, strong social bonds, and altruistic behavior.

"There’s a lot of science behind the power of these very basic habits, and when you do these things on a daily basis over a 21- to 28-day period, it really creates positive change," Slavo said.

Woven into "Do Good. Feel Good" is the research of Harvard University professor and author Shawn Anchor, whose lecture on positive psychology is included in the challenge.

"By doing these activities, and training your brain just like we train our bodies, we’ve found we can reverse the formula for happiness and success, and in doing so, not only create ripples of positivity, but create a real revolution," Anchor said during a TEDxBloomington talk.

To sign up for the challenge, people can go to DoGoodFeelGood.org, or text GOOD to 26464. Daily motivations will start arriving straight to your phone, each of which is designed to help build new habits. Participants will be directed to a web page with short videos explaining how to do the challenge, why it is helpful and additional resources to build off it.

Though the program launches on June 1, people can choose to start whenever they want to, Slavo said.

Challenges include activities like writing down what you’re grateful for, a reminder to hydrate, or ideas to spread kindness around you. One day, people are encouraged to practice self-care with a musical playlist filled with light, positive songs. 

Another day, participants might have to reach out to someone and reconnect with them, in whatever way that means to you.

After 30 days, the hope is that those positive activities will be woven into the fabric of people’s lives, remaining part of their daily habits long after the challenge ends, Slavo said.

Organizations and employers are also encouraged to incorporate the 30-day challenge into their existing wellness program and even have departments compete to see how many team members complete the challenge. People can celebrate successes and share inspiration with other community members on social media by posting with the tag #DGFGchallenge.

"The key is that it’s just simple and easy. It’s not overwhelming," Slavo said. "There is no specific audience — it doesn’t matter how old you are, where you come from, your background, what kind of race or gender you are. This is just good stuff for everybody."

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"Do Good. Feel Good" Challenge

What: A 30-day in program which participants receive daily emails or text messages with inspirational ideas for small shifts that will improve their mind, body and spirit in the coming weeks.

Who: Franciscan Health

When: Launches on June 1, but people can choose to start any time

How to sign up: Go to DoGoodFeelGood.org, or text GOOD to 26464.

For more information: Email [email protected] with “DGFG” in the subject line

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