Mindfulness in Schools

Many studies expound the benefits of mindfulness to children's health. Australia appear to be leading the way in this important area.

Go to the profile of Heather Mason
Heather Mason
Founder of the Minded Institute, The Minded Institute
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/…/New-research-reveals-kids-taug…

According to leading mental health charity, Young Minds, 1 in 10 children and young people aged 5 - 16 suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder in the UK - that is around three children in every class and between 1 in every 12 and 1 in 15 children and young people deliberately self-harm. These are very worry statistics indeed, and the upward trend of mental health struggles in childhood tragically currently shows no sign of abating.

Many studies expound the benefits of mindfulness to children's health. Australia appear to be leading the way in this important area. Currently,1 in 7 children between 4 and 17 in Australia have a mental health disorder. with 1 in 4 children 8-14 reported bullying every few weeks. In a new study based in Victoria, Australia called
the Smiling Mind study, a total of 1,853 children from 12 schools were split into two groups. One half of the participants, aged between 7 and 18, took an eight-week-long mindfulness programme, while the other control group took the course afterwards.

The vast majority of the children in the mindfulness group reported a boost in sleep quality. There were also significant improvements in student behaviour at school and mental well-being. 'The vision is to see Mindfulness Meditation on the national Australian school curriculum by 2020,' the new study - conducted by not-for-profit organisation, Smiling Mind - revealed.

We shall follow this closely and bring you any new developments as we hear of them.

Namaste and have a fabulous week everyone :)

www.themindedinstitute.com

Go to the profile of Heather Mason

Heather Mason

Founder of the Minded Institute, The Minded Institute

Heather Mason is a leader in the field of mind-body therapy and the founder of Yoga Therapy for the Mind. She develops innovative methods for mental health treatment drawing on her robust educational background including an MA in Psychotherapy, an MA in Buddhist Studies, studies in Neuroscience and a current MSc in Medical Physiology.. She is also a 500 RYT, a yoga therapist and an MBCT facilitator. Heather offers various professional trainings for yoga teachers, healthcare professionals and therapists, lectures around the world, and delivers training to medical students. She also develops protocols for different client populations by translating cutting edge research from the psycho-biology and neuro-biology of stress into yoga practices, breathwork, mindfulness interventions and therapeutic holding. Further she is involved in research on the efficacy of these practices, holds the annual UK yoga therapy conference and is blazing the trail for the integration of yoga therapy into the NHS

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