Mindfulness in Schools Lowers Teen Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Risk

Up to six months after starting an in-class mindfulness program, secondary school students reported fewer signs of stress, anxiety, and despair. Furthermore, there was a lower risk of noticeable depressive symptoms emerging in these pupils. Professor Filip Raes of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at KU Leuven led the study, which is the first to look at mindfulness and its impact on reducing mental health risks in a large sample of teenagers in a school-based environment.

A type of meditation therapy called mindfulness focuses on developing “attentiveness.” Depression frequently stems from a negative spiral of thoughts and emotions.

A person can take action before the risk of depression takes hold if they can identify these emotions and ideas more rapidly.

Even though mindfulness has previously been extensively researched and used with depressed patients, this is the first time the technique has been examined in a large sample of teenagers in a school context with a randomised controlled design.

In Flanders, Belgium, five middle schools participated in the study.

Reducing Depression Risk: Impact of Mindfulness Training on Teen Mental Health

There were about 400 participants, ranging in age from 13 to 20. There were two groups of students: one for testing and the other for control.

While the control group got no instruction, the test group underwent mindfulness training.

Before the research, both groups filled out a questionnaire indicating symptoms of anxiety, stress, or sadness.

Following the training, both groups answered the questionnaire once more, and then again six months later.

Before the training began, 21% of the test group and 24% of the control group showed signs of depression.

Following the mindfulness training, the test group’s percentage dropped dramatically to 15% from 27% in the control group.

Six months later, 16% of the test group and 31% of the control group reported signs of depression.

The findings suggest mindfulness reduces depressive symptoms and can prevent the future emergence of similar depression-related symptoms.

The Go for Happiness Foundation funded the study, collaborating with the non-profit Mindfulness organization in Belgium for research.