14 October 2016

As Mental Health Week 2016 comes to a close we take this opportunity to reflect on practices that improve the mental health and wellbeing of our students and teachers.

Studies have proven that the practice of mindfulness helps us to live more consciously and fully. In fact, the Victorian Government has recently trialled a mindfulness meditation program in 12 government schools which showed ‘significant improvements in the mental health and wellbeing of students and teachers, as well as a reduction in bullying behaviour’.

The Christian tradition is rich in tools for meditation and mindfulness. A session entitled ‘Meditation, Wellbeing and Catholic Identity’ was held at the Catholic Theological College last year to equip educators with the tools needed for introducing and enhancing the practice of mindfulness and meditation in a school setting.

View keynote speakers Dr Craig Hassed (Monash University) and Rev. Dr John Dupuche as they explore the question: ‘Why is mindfulness (meditation) essential for school students?’

Dr Craig Hassed (below) is a General Practitioner and Senior Lecturer at the Monash University Department of General Practice. His teaching, research and clinical interests include mindfulness-based stress management, mind–body medicine, meditation, holistic healthcare, health promotion, integrative medicine and medical ethics.

Rev. Dr John Dupuche (below) is a member of the Department of Pastoral and General Studies at the Catholic Theological College (University of Divinity). He lectures in the Graduate Certificate in Guiding Meditation and is a member of School of Prayer with the Archbishop’s Office for Evangelisation.