A Mindful Nation

Over the last ten years, Mindfulness has become increasingly popular among people wanting to improve their mental health and well-being. There have been countless media articles, books and DVDs released recently for people wanting to know more about the subject. There has been a growth in private mindfulness teachers and classes and mindfulness has also become increasingly available to particular patient groups within the NHS over the last decade.

Described as being the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, with curiosity and compassion, practicing Mindfulness leads people to a deeper understanding of life and how to respond wisely.

Bangor University’s Centre for Mindfulness Research & Practice has been instrumental in introducing Mindfulness to the UK and in both researching its effectiveness in different settings and in training the practitioners.

An all Party Parliamentary Group, looking at Mindfulness has now launched an interim report, The Mindful Nation UK, urging all parties in the next election to consider how best to include mindfulness in how their parties tackle a mental health crisis.

The report describes how mindfulness could play a role in education, healthcare, work and criminal justice.

Rebecca Crane of Bangor University’s Centre for Mindfulness sat on the Advisory Panel of the All Party Parliamentary Group, and is delighted that Bangor University’s research and service development work is strongly represented in the report; with Bangor University having contributed research in three of the four areas covered.

She commented:

“The Report presents a great opportunity to highlight the work that happens in universities such as Bangor, into the development of new programmes and practice as well as researching the effectiveness of mindfulness in and how it is applied in different settings and with different groups of people. In addition, the report shows the practical work that takes place and the work in influencing policy and implementation, and assists us in sharing new understanding based on research, with practitioners, people or organisations who may be able to adopt mindfulness programmes and the general public.”

Link to Mental Health Foundation media release

Publication date: 14 January 2015