The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) has shared results from its Resilient Mind Program, revealing huge improvements in mental wellbeing and resilience for those who took part.

The program was funded by AFTA and an anonymous sponsor from the sector to give members scientifically proven skills to boost their health and mental wellbeing in the face of the ongoing personal and professional challenges posed by COVID-19.

The program resulted in a whopping 350 per cent improvement in the number of people with high mental wellbeing, and a 150 per cent improvement in the number of people who now report having high resilience, according to validated questionnaires.

Low levels of mental wellbeing or likely mental health issues were experienced by 49 per cent of agents who took the survey before completing the program. This dropped to just nine per cent following the completion of the program.

Throughout September, more than 1,350 travel agents and travel industry employees from airlines, cruise lines, tour operator businesses and wholesalers watched over 6,250 educational videos, performed more than 10,500 workouts and logged 135,000 healthy habits in the Resilient Mind app.

Some of the most popular rituals completed by members were alcohol-free days (9,480), cold showers (6,676) and digital detox (6,552).

Bek Ortega from team Solo Connections proved to be the most resilient AFTA member in terms of points earned in the app, with Sarah Szubanski from team Platinum Travel Corp and Lorraine Henderson from team Lockdown Legends ranking second and third respectively.

With an overwhelming number of members requesting continued access to the Resilient Mind app, Paul Taylor, director of the Mind-Body Brain Performance Institute, has responded by offering a complimentary 12-month extension for all existing users.

“Last week the Australian health minister, Greg Hunt, spoke in Canberra about a surge in the number of people contacting mental health services in 2020,” AFTA chief executive Darren Rudd said.

“He said 2020 could be the most difficult year Australians have faced since the Second World War, and for our members, it definitely is the toughest time on record.

“I’m pleased to see the program has made a big difference in improving the wellbeing and resilience of hundreds of AFTA members, but I’m conscious that uncertainty continues to pose challenges.

“I invite AFTA members to continue using these scientifically-based resources as we work towards our common goal of securing the future of our industry.”

AFTA chief executive Daren Rudd will be speaking at the travel industry’s most thought-provoking conference, Travel DAZE 2020, next month. To find out more or to register, click here.

Featured image: iStock/pixinoo