Headspace, a global leader in meditation and mindfulness, is providing free subscriptions to all unemployed and furloughed workers in the UK.
This initiative will help address the extraordinary mental health burden on those directly impacted by the economic downturn – a combined group of over 10 million unemployed and furloughed individuals.
All unemployed or furloughed people in the UK can register for a free Headspace Plus subscription by visiting www.headspace.com/unemployed. All validated subscribers will get free access to all 1200+ hours of meditation and mindfulness content, including sleep, kids, and mindful movement exercises.
The latest ONS figures reveal that the number of workers on UK payrolls fell by more than 600,000 between March and May 2020, with the unemployment number now standing at 1.34m. This doesn’t include the 9.1m furloughed workers, representing around a third of the UK workforce. The Government’s extension of the furlough support scheme to the end of October means furloughed individuals also face uncertainty over job security in the longer term, resulting in people across the country facing not only financial hardship but an extraordinary mental health burden.
Andy Puddicombe, co-founder, Headspace, said: “Since the very beginning of the COVID pandemic, we’ve been committed to providing Headspace to everyone most in need. We know how devastating unemployment can be, and the stress, anxiety, and health concerns that it can lead to. Obviously, mindfulness cannot change the circumstances of the pandemic, but it can help to provide essential tools for managing stress at this difficult time.”
In addition to the content in its existing library, unemployed and furloughed individuals in the UK will be able to access six meditations under a featured collection called “Living through unemployment” – tailored meditative content for people who are having to cope with job loss. This collection will include sessions such as “Adapting to Sudden Change,” “Sadness and Loss,” “Recovering Confidence” and “Finding Purpose.”
Renate Nyborg, GM, Europe, added: “People across the UK are dealing with the stress and anxiety of unemployment and being on furlough. At Headspace, we have a vital role to play in supporting mental health by providing access to tools that are proven to reduce stress and increase resilience. Losing any job is emotionally challenging, and unemployment in this uncertain environment can add even further pressure. We are determined to do everything we can to support.”
This new commitment forms part of “The Headspace Promise” – an ongoing initiative supporting people across the world through expanding access to its meditation and mindfulness tools since the onset of the public health crisis. In the UK, this has included offering NHS workers free access to the Headspace app to experience the benefits of mindfulness and meditation.
Last month, Headspace announced free access for all unemployed people in the United States, totalling 36.5 million, as well as partnerships with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to provide free Headspace content to residents. Headspace also unlocked a free specially curated collection of meditation and mindfulness content in the Headspace app, called ‘Weathering the Storm’, for people around the world.
