Commonly known as Blue Monday, Monday 20 January is deemed to be the most depressing day of the year and can be a challenging time for many.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity, in partnership with Cornish Gems, are turning the Blue Monday sentiment on its head with a move to improve wellbeing through the launch of an Echo Point Guided Breathing Post, a new wellbeing resource for staff, patients and visitors at Royal Cornwall Hospital.
In partnership with Cornish Gems, an independent luxury self-catering holiday home provider, the charity and Trust Wellbeing Team are excited to announce the launch of the Echo Point Guided Breathing Post, a new resource dedicated to helping users find calm, recharge, and prioritise their mental well-being.
What is the Guided Breathing Post?
The Echo Point, creation of local artist Justin Wiggan, is a post with a solar powered speaker playing a bespoke sound file which guides users through exercises so users can take a moment to pause and breathe.
The guided exercises are designed to help:
- Ease stress and tension.
- Improve focus and resilience.
- Foster mindfulness and relaxation.
“Echo Point is a new well-being programme which uses sounds to influence breathing to foster sustained resilience and reduce agitation with mindful actions in daily life. The Echo Point is a bespoke sound file that plays a carefully curated and structured soundscape, which helps users to redirect negative emotions and enter a state of calm,” said Justin Wiggan, creator of Echo Point.
A Well-Timed Launch
With Blue Monday falling on Monday 20th January, this launch couldn’t be better timed. This new resource offers a simple but powerful tool for tackling the January blues and supporting emotional health.
A Gift from the Community
The initiative has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Cornish Gems, led by founder Nadia Macer-Wright, who last year hiked 142 miles along the North Cornwall coastal path alongside her husband Tom to raise funds for the Echo Point.
She said: “As soon as I met Justin Wiggan and learnt about the transformative power of soundscapes on one’s mental wellbeing, I knew I wanted to work with him on creating a safe space for our local hospital staff to breathe, take stock, and reset, ultimately helping them to reduce anxiety levels, build resilience, and become more present.
“Despite the wind, rain, mud and blisters that we experienced during the #Gems142 – as it became fondly known amongst the Cornish Gems team – we’re immensely proud that we were able to raise the funds for the Echo Point at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, and truly use the business’ voice as a force for good.”
The Echo Point installation is a welcome addition to the resources provided in the holistic approach taken to staff well-being at Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT),
“During 2024 we have continued the focus on supporting mental and emotional health for colleagues. We continue to explore options and ideas to create a package of health and wellbeing support which takes a holistic approach for all colleagues, and the organisation as a whole.
The opportunity to have an Echo Point on site will give all who take a seat here the opportunity to rest for a short while and reflect on how they are feeling. This post will form part of our package of outdoor support promoting both mental and physical wellbeing.” Dorothy Russell, Associate Director, People Services, RCHT.
Join Us for the Launch Event!
To celebrate the arrival of this much-needed resource, join us on Blue Monday for:
- A demonstration of the Guided Breathing Post.
- Free goodies – while stocks last!
- A chance to connect with colleagues and focus on your well-being.
Date: Monday 20 January
Location: The Echo Point – In front of ED below the Helipad, Royal Cornwall Hospital.
Time: 12.30pm to 2.30pm
Let’s come together to beat the blues and prioritise self-kindness.
Thank you, Cornish Gems, for helping us turn Blue Monday into a moment of positivity and renewal!