Special Guest Blogger:
Dr Maura Kenny
Consultant Psychiatrist and Mindfulness Expert
Dr Maura Kenny, Specialist Mindfulness Teacher and Psychiatrist, discusses the potential of mindfulness for strengthening the mental health and wellbeing of South Australians.
Sophisticated technology has facilitated life in the 21st century yet, at the same time, traditional jobs are changing and even disappearing. We can be both more connected yet adversely affected by 24/7 access to social media. Endless screen time can entertain us but have a negative impact on healthy sleep patterns and productivity. And the trajectory of our lives is changing compared to how previous generations worked and lived.
Uncertainty breeds anxiety and too much change or choice can give rise to unrealistic expectations and inevitable disappointments. Having time on our hands may sound like freedom but if unemployment is forced upon us, knowing how to manage this well becomes a vital skill. If time is a precious commodity due to work and family demands, finding ways to create moments of peace and increase productivity may be the answer to creating an enjoyable life.
Rates of depression, anxiety and stress are on the rise, especially in young people, with the WHO now stating that depression is the commonest cause of ill health and disability worldwide.
However, the good news is, that just as there are many causes of depression and anxiety, there are also many possible treatments and approaches that can help. The challenge is to find the right treatment or combination of approaches that helps those affected. One new approach, based on an ancient form of meditation, is that of Mindfulness.
Bringing greater awareness to the present moment with an attitude of friendly interest, compassion and steadiness is the practice of mindfulness meditation. This practice soothes our nervous system, settles turbulent emotions and allows the possibility of being more skilful in how we speak and act. Mindfulness approaches are usually taught in groups leading to a sense of community and connection.
This rise in interest in mindfulness-based approaches is not only because of their strong evidence base for reducing and preventing relapses of depression, anxiety and stress, but also because they teach ways of living with more peace and contentment, even joy, wisdom and flourishing.
In these changing and challenging times, more than ever we need ways of promoting mental health, resilience and wellbeing in ourselves and our community.
Mindfulness may become the core 21st century skill in the service of wise and compassionate living.
So take a moment to place both feet on the floor, feel the contact with the ground, and bring a friendly interest to the sensation of the body making contact with the chair and the movement of your breathing in the body.
Whenever your attention wanders away, gently bring it back over and over to the present moment as best you can. After a few moments or minutes or longer, congratulate yourself for taking some time to stop and be mindful then resume your day.
If you want to explore this approach further, please see the Mindfulness Teachers’ Network SA website that lists professionally trained mindfulness teachers who provide mindfulness based courses in South Australia. Visit: www.mindfulnesstnsa.com
By Dr Maura Kenny, FRANZCP
Consultant Psychiatrist and Mindfulness Expert
Mental Health Week: October 8–14
Special Guest Bloggers
