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Children In Schools To Be Given Mindfulness Lessons To Cope With Stress

Children In Schools To Be Given Mindfulness Lessons To Cope With Stress

It's designed to help children cope with the 'pressures of the modern world.'

Emma Rosemurgey

Emma Rosemurgey

Thousands of children will receive mindfulness lessons in school to help them deal with the 'pressures of the modern world.'

The scheme will pilot in 370 primary and secondary schools in the UK to test how the different approaches can help improve children's mental health.

Running until 2021, the trial will be the largest of its kind in the world and will also see students engage in sessions with mental health experts.

According to the Department for Education, the scheme will teach children 'innovative techniques' like mindfulness, relaxation and breathing exercises to "help them regulate their emotions."

Mindfulness has grown hugely in popularity over recent years as it uses meditation to help focus the brain on the present.

Education secretary Damian Hinds announced the trial to mark the beginning of Children's Mental Health week.

"As a society, we are more open about our mental health than ever before, but the modern world has brought new pressures for children, while potentially making others worse," he said.

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"Schools and teachers don't have all the answers - nor could they - but we know they can play a special role, which is why we have launched one of the biggest mental health trials in schools."

The pilot scheme is led by the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, alongside the University College London.

Project leader Dr Jessica Deighton said: "We know schools have a strong commitment to supporting children's mental health and wellbeing but have had little clear guidance about the best ways to approach this.

"We want children and young people, parents and teachers to be confident that mental health in schools has an absolutely robust evidence base."

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The compulsory health education curriculum now includes mental health, following fears of an epidemic of mental health issues in young people.

A recent study found that social media has caused an increased sense of loneliness among youths, which is set to rise.

A study by Childwise found that older girls were particularly affected with 80 per cent of 15 to 16-year-olds experiencing loneliness.

Research director Simon Leggett said: "They are spending time alone in their bedrooms, scrolling through digital content, watching the lives of others unfold ... rather than going to a friend's house."

Featured Image Credit: Pexels

Topics: Life News, Real