Department of Family and Community Medicine & the Women s Health Care Centre CAP Research Day Presentation 2009 Rachael Frankford MSW RSW Darlene Dzendoletas MSW RSW Billee Laskin MSW RSW 1
Rationale Mindfulness Meditation is a recognized approach to help patients deal with a range of emotional and physical issues (depression, anxiety, and physical pain). Mindfulness Meditation and MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) are supported by research findings that demonstrate its effectiveness in working with various patient populations. 2
Rationale SMH ambulatory clinics provide service to the City s most vulnerable patient groups. Support Services within and outside the hospital have long waiting lists and many patients are underserved. 3 Providing a Mindfulness Meditation Group in a community based setting would help patients access desired support and skills in a costeffective manner.
Objectives Develop and pilot a Mindfulness Meditation Group that will meet the supportive service needs of underserved patient populations in the Women s Health Care Centre and Department of Community & Family Medicine. Based on the Train the Trainer Model two MSW counsellors are being trained by a clinician/consultant who has extensive training and practice in meditation and expertise in working with marginalized groups. An evaluation will explore the effectiveness of the group. 4
Objectives Mindfulness Meditation in our program is responsive to the specific issues of the vulnerable communities we serve (i.e. persons with addictions, trauma history, anxiety, depression, life transitions) Facilitators support participants to learn the practices and perspectives of mindfulness meditation and process aspects of the experience when needed. 5 It is essential that facilitators have their own daily meditation practice along with clinical facilitation skills
Program Description Collaborative effort of Women s Health Care Centre & Department of Community & Family Medicine Funded by Programs and SMH s TIP(The Intrapreneurship Program) Grant 6
Program Description 10 week group 2 hour group session each Monday afternoon 1 extended session structured as a 5 hour retreat 2 hours weekly consultation with trainer and trainees that takes place before and after group sessions Referrals from clinic team members and self-referrals 7
Program Description: Group Session Consultant is main facilitator of group Each session includes mindfulness meditation practices (breath, mindful eating, body scan, body sensations, loving kindness & compassion, thoughts and feelings) Group discussion includes: exploration of participants direct practice experience, application of practice to specific challenges and integration of practice into one s life Participants are encouraged to integrate a daily ish practice, incorporating the formal and informal practices of meditation into their lives Readings materials provided No Cost to patients 8
Evaluation Pre and Post test of Standardized Questionnaires (Index of Clinical Stress and Mindfulness Attention and Awareness Scale) Qualitative Questionnaire designed for each participant to complete following completion of group Results to follow 9
Anticipated Outcomes Train the Trainer Model will provide participating MSW counsellors with specialized skills to provide Mindfulness Meditation Groups to inner city communities Training will assist in identifying future continual education needs of counsellors Mindfulness Meditation Groups will be a cost effective method of providing supportive services to underserved Provide model for future Interprofessional Practice Education 10