Episode 22: Mindfulness and Education: Professor Craig Hassed
Episode 22 of M3CS’s Contemplative Science Podcast saw Professor Craig Hassed come on to the show to talk about the theories, benefits and practicalities of including mindfulness training in education settings - both in schools and universities.
For the full podcast, check out the episode here.
In this episode, we cover...
Craig’s early encounters with mindfulness as a way to stay calm and focused.
Why the misuse of technology may be causing a rise in mental health issues.
How Monash are leading the line with the inclusion of compulsory mindfulness classes.
Professor Craig Hassed is currently director of education at our very own Monash Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies (M3CS). An internationally renowned mindfulness expert, he has authored numerous books and online courses - receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to Medicine in 2019.
Here are some of the key insights from the conversation...
Mindfulness helps to alleviate our daily concerns, letting us focus more intently.
”Sometimes people say: isn’t mindfulness a distraction from your worries? Isn’t that all you’re doing? It’s actually the opposite of that. It’s the distracted state of mind that’s the problem - mindfulness is the remedy for distraction.”
Integrating mindfulness in early education can equip children with lifelong abilities.
”What I think we do need to do is to help children to develop healthy attitudes, practices, lifestyle, connection and so on... from an early age, so we can prevent problems later in life. I think this kind of wellbeing education needs to start early and not to get into problems and then all of a sudden start having to use therapies, when the preventions are often better.”
Whilst school teachers could show the basics, specialised mental health issues need more care.
”We don't necessarily expect that teachers are going to be the ones to teach mental health interventions because that's a different skill set. So although teaching basic mindfulness techniques can be very helpful in a learning environment... when talking about managing mental health problems and so on, you need a very experienced mindfulness teacher, who understands the principles of things like MBCT. You need somebody with really good mental health credentials.”
The best place to find Professor Craig Hassed is here.
See you next week!
