Meditation on Prescription
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By TG Staff in Health and therapy Published: Tuesday, 05 January 10 - 10:05 AM (GMT) Last Updated: Tuesday, 05 January 10 - 11:05 AM (GMT) |
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In their new 'Be Mindful' report the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) is asking that meditation be made more readily available on prescription. Even though National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance for the NHS has recommended Mindfulness Based Cognitive Theray (MBCT) for recurrent depression since 2004 , just 1 in 5 GPs say they can access the treatment for their patients and only 1 in 20 prescribe MBCT regularly.
The MHF has created an extensive online respource at their 'be mindful' website. This includes short videos, descriptions of mindfulness practice and a summary of the evidence that mindfulness works to improve mental health and well-being. The site also includes an order form for the 'Be Mindful' report. MHF are running a campaign to publicise mindfulness and make it more widely available.
This blog has regularly reported on the ways that Buddhist meditation practices are being used in therapies and on the growing evidence for their benefits. Mindfulness is being succesfully used for anxiety, depression, addictive behaviour, chronic pain and stress.
The mindfulness techniques that are being used as therapy are identical to the methods taught now in Buddhist contexts and that are described in Buddhist scriptures. Even the earliest Pali Buddhist texts describe sati (mindfulness) and its cultivation. Mindfulness is positioned as a central Buddhist practice within a range of teaching lists, including the seven factors of enlighrenment, the five faculties and strengths; and the ennobling eightfold path. These factors form the heart of the Buddha's teaching and so those who practice mindfulness as therapy should be aware that they are applying a core Buddhist practice.
However, mindfulness is simply something that all humans can cultivate; it is not a Buddhist monopoly any more than our ability to concentrate is. The Buddha was open-handed. He offered his teachings generously to all. Clearly, given the growing evidence that mindfulness practice enables us to establish healthy and positive mental attitudes, it is something that should be taught in schools to all young people.
It is a pity that current sensitivities to 'religion' have made this into a minefield. I read that
Dr Jonty Heaversedge, a south London GP and one of the BBC's Street Doctors, said he had himself sought out a Buddhist centre to learn to meditate to manage his own stress, but felt uncomfortable to be recommending it to his patients in case they thought he was promoting religion.
What a pity that Buddhist teachings that can be so helpful to so many, cannot be recommended in case religious sentiment is offended. And presumably Dr Heaverside might lay himself open to legal sanction under recent equality legislation?
The good news is that those who want to look for information on mindfulness can find a wealth of very useful and inspiring material at a whole range of Buddhist internet sites and at Buddhist centres around the UK. (See for example some of the links on this TGBF site.)
And not only that, they will find that mindfulness is only one important part of a much more comprehensive array of tools, techniques, frameworks and teachings. Teachings which are intended to relieve mental suffering and encourage a healthy, realistic and enlightened approach to life.
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