Introduction

Changes in our world are happening as fast as a blink of an eye. We must deal with new diseases, develop new skills to be competitive in the labour market, adapt our lives to all sorts of crises. As a consequence, many of us get sequestered in negative thoughts and emotions, leading to increasing levels of anxiety and depression. The rise in mental health problems is a general trend in our world. Underlying causes include climate anxiety, a highly competitive society, the uncertainty of working life, and a massive flood of information. This trend was worsened by COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to about a 25% increase of depression and anxiety disorders [1]. Thus, there is an urgent need to promote mental health strategies to reverse this trend. Scientific evidence shows that mindfulness and art interventions have successfully reduced stress, anxiety and depression in adults [2-5]. A healthy lifestyle has long been known to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases, and lifestyle medicine is now being recognized as an important strategy to mental health [6]. Thus, the goal of this Blended Intensive Program (BIP) is to develop and apply a program that provides efficient strategies to cope with stress and anxiety, and to improve overall well-being in staff from higher education institutions.

Methods

The BIP will have 60 contact hours in total and 5 ECTS: a 40 hour-immersive week (in-person) at Polytechnic University of Santarém, Portugal, plus 20 hours of online program.

Outcomes

● Training manual for participants.

● Assessment of the impact of the program through questionnaires filled in the first session and the last session.

● Certificate of attendance (attending of at least 75% of the sessions)

● Certificate of training after assessment (personal reflexion and team project description): 5 ECTS

Objectives

1) Stress and Anxiety Management: provide efficient strategies that allow participants to recognize, cope with, and reduce stress and anxiety in themselves and others within their higher education institutions.

2) Enhanced Well-being: foster an overall improvement in the well-being of staff members by providing them with tools and practices to cultivate a healthy lifestyle, resilience, balance, and emotional regulation.

3) Skill Development: develop skills in mindfulness, yoga, meditation, and culture-based strategies to promote self-awareness, concentration, and relaxation.

4) Community Engagement: empower participants to design and implement initiatives aimed at spreading art, mindfulness, and healthy lifestyle-based strategies within their workplaces and communities.

5) Team Collaboration: facilitate teamwork and collaboration among participants through a team project focused on creating actionable plans to implement strategies learned during the program.

Description

The “Emotional Regulation with Mindfulness, Art and Lifestyle” at Polytechnic University of Santarém aims to support staff members from higher education institutions in managing stress, enhancing well-being, and promoting healthy lifestyle practices within their communities. The program consists of a 40-hour immersive week and 20 hours of online sessions.

Immersive Week:

During the immersive week, participants will engage in a series of practical workshops covering key topics such as attitudes, mindfulness, yoga, meditation, cultural strategies for well-being, and lifestyle practices. Workshops will begin with introductory sessions to explore fundamental concepts, followed by hands-on activities designed to develop practical skills and encourage personal and teamwork.

Participants will also embark on a team project during the immersive week, focusing on the theme “how to spread art, mindfulness, and healthy lifestyle-based strategies in the workplace/community.” Through collaborative efforts, teams will define target groups, set goals, and devise action plans to implement their projects effectively.

Online Sessions:

Two online sessions will be delivered before the immersive week. In the first online session, participants and teachers will join in an online session to get to know each other and introduce the functioning of the course and the topics of the immersive week. In the second online session the concept and origin of Mindfulness will be introduced, followed by a discussion of its benefits.

Following the immersive week, participants will continue their learning journey through online sessions that complement the skills and knowledge acquired during the in-person workshops. These sessions will provide further guidance and support for the implementation of the team projects, allowing participants to refine their plans and address any challenges they encounter.

Overall, the BIP aims to empower participants with practical tools, insights, and strategies to not only manage stress and anxiety but also to foster a culture of well-being and resilience within their respective institutions and communities. Through experiential learning and collaborative projects, participants will be equipped to make positive and sustainable changes in their professional and personal lives.