Mass General Brigham’s investment in employee mental health is paying dividends in increased wellbeing, a study of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine’s (BHI) Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART-3RP®) program demonstrates.

“Helping healthcare workers manage stress is essential for their well-being, the quality of care they provide, and the broader healthcare system. While systemic changes are needed, the SMART-3RP intervention helps build personal skills that effectively support stress management,” said Research Coordinator Natalie Durieux, lead author of the study.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) face an elevated risk of chronic stress due to the demands of their profession, which, when left unmanaged, can negatively impact both mental and physical health. The COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the need for effective interventions to support HCW well-being.

“The Stress Management and Resiliency Training Program showed remarkable effectiveness, with participants experiencing substantial improvements across all measured outcomes, including stress coping skills, perceived stress levels, and positive emotional states, which were particularly noteworthy. These findings demonstrate that even during unprecedented healthcare system strain, structured interventions can provide employees with effective tools to navigate stress and maintain their well-being,” said BHI Medical Director Darshan Mehta, MD, MPH.

The study, published in Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health, examined changes in stress and resiliency outcomes among more than 250 MGB employees who participated in the SMART-3RP clinical program during and after the COVID-19 pandemic (from February 2021-January 2024).

“During these challenging times, wellness programs area critical initiative to protect and enhance health care workers’ emotional and physical wellbeing,” said Elyse R. Park, PhD, MPH, Director of Research at BHI.  These programs are powerful at increasing work satisfaction and workforce retention, which are so important to promote right now. It is so exciting that MGB is putting resources into their workforce community.”

The SMART program is a copyrighted, research-validated curriculum that teaches self-care practices that help participants buffer daily stress, regain a sense of emotional control and enhance quality of life. Throughout the 8-week group program, participants build resilience through mind body principles and self-care interventions, leading to reduced medical symptoms and enhanced quality of life. Interventions include mindfulness and meditation, sleep hygiene, exercise and healthy eating to cognitive reappraisal, positive psychology and the healing powers of creativity and humor.

Key Findings

Healthcare workers experienced significant improvements in:

• Resiliency (measured using the Current Experiences Scale)
• Stress coping skills
• Positive emotions
• Perceived stress levels
• Symptoms of anxiety and depression

 

“The long-term success of employee wellness programs hinges on health systems recognizing that investing in workforce well-being is not just an expense but a strategic imperative,” Dr. Mehta said. “By investing in employee wellness initiatives like SMART, Mass General Brigham is making this MGB a better place to work, while also working to improve employee retention, enhance patient care, and foster a more resilient and engaged workforce, yielding significant returns.”

 

Learn More

Read the findings in Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27536130251325831

The findings suggest that resiliency interventions such as the SMART-3RP warrant further research in randomized trials to confirm the promising benefits for HCW stress and emotional well-being.