Our school has been selected to take part in a research evaluation of different approaches to mental health and wellbeing in schools. As part of this, our school has been randomly allocated to receive the Mindfulness intervention.
Mindfulness is delivered by school staff to Year 7 & 8 pupils for 5 minutes every day between January to April 2023 (Spring term). This intervention is based on the concept and practice of ‘mindfulness’, which can be described as “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally”.
The overall aim of the intervention is to encourage pupils to focus on awareness of internal and external experiences, as well as fostering an attitude of acceptance and being in the present moment. In general, Mindfulness encompasses two main elements: Self-awareness: This involves awareness of the present moment, including all internal and external experiences, such as thoughts, feelings and sensations. Research has shown that this type of self-awareness can help to prevent negative thoughts and emotions as well as helping control reactions to stress.
Orientation to experience: This involves maintaining curiosity, openness and acceptance about thoughts experienced in the moment and the individual’s relationship to their experience. This requires the individual to be experientially open and fully receptive in the moment, which helps individuals to observe the process of their experience without judgement, rather than be pulled into the content or emotion of it.
