Abstract
Over the past decade, research has focussed on emotion-regulation and brain development. Trauma and attachment difficulties are known to disrupt neural pathways early in life with severe impacts on emotional functioning. At the same time there are mounting concerns about the mental health of our young people with soaring rates of depression, aggression, drug use and suicide.
This paper will examine the place of meditation and mindfulness training in enhancing the mental health of children and adolescents. It will overview current projects overseas teaching mindfulness skills to young people within the school system and the ways in which this can be done. It will also examine the place of these techniques in reducing the symptoms of a variety of childhood psychiatric disorders, personality difficulties, self-harming behaviour, drug and alcohol use.
Meditation is specific training of the mind/brain in the skilful deployment of attention and inhibitory control. Mindfulness training has been used extensively within Dialectic Behaviour Training. Meditation enhances the functioning of the neural pathways for emotional regulation, improving resilience and emotional intelligence. Meditation improves concentration and academic performance. Meditation enhances spirituality – a sense of greater meaning and connectedness with life, which may be the most important factor in determining personal happiness and inner contentment.
Meditation is potentially one of the safest, cost effective therapeutic tools for use in child psychiatry. Widespread training of youth has the potential to improve the emotional intelligence and well being of an entire generation.