Guided meditation as an integrative practice for the well-being of community health workers

Abstract

Objective: To report the implementation of a guided meditation workshop as a complementary therapy to promote the psychological and emotional well-being of community health workers, based on the principles of Permanent Health Education. Experience report: The experience was carried out with community health workers from a Family Health Strategy, in the city of Belém, Pará, Brazil. The activity was structured in five stages based on the Maguerez Arc, including discussion circles, an educational workshop, and the application of a guided meditation session. Participants’ perceptions were assessed using an author-developed satisfaction questionnaire applied through the Kahoot platform. The practice showed wide acceptance, with a predominance of positive responses regarding satisfaction and perceived emotional states. Analysis of the experience allowed the identification of three central thematic axes: stress relief and emotional restoration; tranquility, focus, and emotional self-regulation; and appreciation and sense of belonging to the work collective. Final considerations: Guided meditation proved to be a light, accessible, and well-accepted care technology for mental health promotion among community health workers, although the experience was limited to  local context and  small number of participants.