Mindfulness in Schools Project is launching its “A Million Minds Matter” campaign

Did you know that 50% of those with lifetime mental illness experience symptoms by the age of 14 (Public Health England 2016)? There is overwhelming evidence to suggest the urgency of finding preventative measures to counteract the growing scale of this problem, this is something Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP) is working to do.

The charity, which provides mindfulness training to teachers, is launching its “A Million Minds Matter” campaign, which pledges to reach one million school children within the next 5 years. MiSP is known internationally for its gold standard mindfulness curriculum; .b for 11-18 year olds and the equivalent Paws b programme for younger learners aged 7-11. There is a growing body of peer-reviewed evidence which indicates that mindfulness training is effective in improving pupils’ and teachers’ psychological wellbeing and health:

“We can apprehend and ascertain, through rigorous studies, the potential value that this [mindfulness] has. Because of children’s vulnerabilities and the effects of stress on the developing brain in childhood, it’s even more important to offer these kinds of practices to them than anywhere else… it has the potential to not only transform education but the younger generation as the future of the planet.” Jon Kabat-Zinn – (Key-note address, MiSP Conference 2018)

“A Million Minds Matter” aims to reach out to all schools, removing cost as a barrier to any schools, including those within diverse, needy and disadvantaged communities, which may benefit from MiSP tools and training, which in turn can improve mental well-being.

When taught properly, Mindfulness is an essential life skill, and MiSP’s programmes aim to provide a “lifelong toolkit for children and adults”, enabling individuals to flourish and to provide anchoring in challenging circumstances.

This is why a “A Million Minds Matter” has been launched during Self-Care Week 2018* – an awareness week dedicated to building awareness and making self-care a lifelong habit. The slogan for this year is “Choosing Self-Care for Life”, reflects the ethos of MiSP – their programmes are not a quick-fix which can solve all manner of mental health problems, but rather a process of teaching and equipping children with a life skill they can return to time after time.