Healthy Mind, Body, and Spirit

HARTFORD, Conn. (October 30, 2020)- Trinity Health Of New England, in partnership with Copper Beach Institute and Cloud9 Online, kicks-off the third annual New England 61 Day Challenge™. The New England 61 Day Challenge inspires colleagues and community members to begin their journey to a healthier mind, body, and spirit. When participants “take the pledge” they will gain access to a range of resources to educate about the power of mindfulness practices and encourage ways to create and maintain positive behavior changes long-term. Participants will gain access to MediMind by Cloud9 Online, a mindfulness-based meditation therapy app, as well as access to a range of live and on-demand virtual sessions hosted by Copper Beach Institute.

“The intention of the New England 61 Day Challenge is to inspire mindfulness when it comes to our total wellness,” said Reginald Eadie, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Trinity Health Of New England. “To say 2020 has been difficult is an understatement. We recognize the impact the pandemic has had on our colleagues and community members and know that they are experiencing higher levels of stress and anxiety, in some cases at a concerning level. As we continue to serve as a healing presence to our community, we know it is our duty to provide the tools to help reduce those stress levels. We are proud to do so in a unique and innovative way through the New England 61 Day Challenge.”

The 61 Day Challenge runs for the 61 days between November 1 and December 31. The annual health initiative runs during the holiday season intentionally to inspire the community to start making healthy habits at a time of year when stress reduction is not typically top of mind. The Challenge is designed to help individuals get a jump-start on establishing healthy habits before the New Year. This year, the need is greater than ever to create an avenue for individuals to explore ways to be mindful, be present, be calm, and be compassionate, both with others and ourselves.

"As many of us continue to feel more isolated and divided, we are so grateful to be collaborating with Trinity Health Of New England and these other impactful organizations to offer opportunities to connect and grow our resilience together,” said Peter Callahan, Leadership and Engagement Director, Copper Beech Institute.” Being mindful does not mean we need to stop thinking, but rather mindfulness is an invitation to notice our thoughts and emotions so that we can make healthier, more intentional choices.”

“The purpose of our business at Cloud9 Online is to reduce suffering, increase wellbeing, and create more connection. We’re also a local Connecticut business, and all of us have joined the Cloud9 team because we have a personal dedication to health and wellness – especially for those who might not otherwise be exposed to mindfulness. We’ve created our business model to work with health care institutions and collaborate with health care professionals to deliver what we call ‘Medical-Grade’ meditations because they’re supported by clinical design,” said Delanea Davis, CEO of Cloud9 Online. “So when a revered health system like Trinity Health Of New England, who so tirelessly, generously and skillfully cares for so many of our fellow New Englanders, asked us to participate in a program like the 61 Day Challenge, we jumped at the chance to work with them on behalf of this community, which we hold so dear.”

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials have warned of significant mental health effects, similar to the impact of a major natural disaster. An April poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 58% of U.S. adults are experiencing worry and stress related to the coronavirus outbreak. “This stress is affecting mental health and well-being in various ways such as lost sleep, poor appetite or overeating, frequent headaches or stomach aches, difficulty controlling temper, increased alcohol or drug use, or worsening chronic illness,” said Dr. Eadie. “With the help of our valued partners, including our proud media partner FOX61, it is our hope that this year’s 61 Day Challenge provides tangible tools to cope and manage stress.”

In its inaugural year, the 61 Day Challenge had more than 3,000 participants at its completion. To date, days before the official kick-off, nearly 1,800 individuals have already taken the pledge to begin their journey to achieve a healthy mind, body, and spirit.

For additional details, or take the pledge, visit: NE61DayChallenge.org.

About Trinity Health Of New England

Trinity Health Of New England is an integrated nonprofit health care delivery system formed in 2015 and is a member of Trinity Health located in Livonia, Michigan. Trinity Health Of New England is comprised of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center and Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut; Johnson Memorial Hospital and Home & Community Health Services in Stafford Springs, Connecticut; Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, Connecticut; Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts; Providence Behavioral Health Hospital in Holyoke, Massachusetts; Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital, Springfield, Massachusetts; and Brightside for Families and Children. Visit TrinityHealthOfNE.org for more information and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @TrinityHealthOfNE.