Evaluation of an online mindfulness stress reduction course for mental health staff
Badri Bechlem, Danna van Niekerk
Mental Health Practice November 10, 2026 DOI: 10.7748/mhp.2026.e1790 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Program evaluation Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 59 |
| Population | Staff at an NHS mental health trust |
| Intervention | Online mindfulness stress reduction (MSR) course |
| Duration | Eight weeks |
| Measures | Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, post-course feedback questionnaire |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Participants showed significant increases in well-being and mindfulness after the eight-week online course, and reported that online delivery was effective and that they had learned skills to better regulate their emotions. The authors suggest the course can enhance mindfulness skills and well-being among healthcare staff in high-stress environments. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to reduce stress, anxiety and burnout among healthcare professionals. This article details a project undertaken to evaluate the effects of an eight-week online mindfulness stress reduction (MSR) course for staff at an NHS mental health trust. The course was run five times between September 2020 and May 2022 and 59 members of staff took part. Participants were asked to complete the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale before and after the course as well as a post-course feedback questionnaire. Quantitative analysis showed significant increases in well-being and mindfulness among participants following the course. Participants also indicated that online delivery was an effective method and that they had learned skills enabling them to better regulate their emotions. This suggests that an online MSR course can enhance mindfulness skills and well-being among healthcare staff working in high-stress environments.
Citations in the library
Cites 6
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Home practice in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of participants' mindfulness practice and its association with outcomes Behaviour Research and Therapy May 10, 2017
- Meditation, mindfulness, and acceptance methods in psychotherapy: A systematic review Psychotherapy Research May 8, 2023
- New Evidence in the Booming Field of Online Mindfulness: An Updated Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials JMIR Mental Health February 23, 2021
- Mindfulness-based interventions for people diagnosed with a current episode of an anxiety or depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. PLoS One June 15, 2016
and 1 more in the library