Flinders University academic Leigh Burrows calls for caution on meditation for students

The Education Department has endorsed using mindfulness in schools but research has found the practice is not working and – in some cases – can have harmful effects.

Teachers must exercise caution when using meditation to help students relax as it can have harmful effects, a researcher has warned.

The Education Department has endorsed the practice of mindfulness, which uses meditation and other relaxation measures as methods for students to manage stress and behavioural issues.

Flinders University academic Leigh Burrows said a recent international study had found mindfulness had “no impact on preventing mental health problems or promoting wellbeing”.

In a paper published last week, Dr Burrows, a former teacher and qualified counsellor, said the British study of 28,000 young people taught mindfulness techniques at school had raised serious questions.

A researcher has warned teachers must exercise caution when using meditation to help students relax as it can have harmful effects. Picture: File

“For the most part the young people did not enjoy it, found it boring, didn’t want to do it, couldn’t do it and had no choice,” she said.

“Importantly, while the study found it might work for some children, overall it was found to have no impact on preventing mental health problems or promoting well being. In the worse cases, it led them to feeling negative physical effects.”

Dr Burrows said the study supported similar research she had conducted in 2017 with American students.

“Participants reported negative experiences, including feeling numb, detached, hyper aware, unable to focus or sustain attention and as if their heart was beating too fast,” she said.

Dr Burrows said educators needed to “temper” their enthusiasm about offering mindfulness in schools, “especially when applying techniques to vulnerable populations”.

“The benefits of mindfulness meditation as a wellbeing and clinical tool have been overhyped and the evidence base is not robust,” she said.

“We need to be wary of unverified enthusiasm and utopian beliefs about mindfulness.”

Dr Burrows said it also was critical young people were engaged more about what techniques would be used.

Mindfulness uses meditation and other relaxation measures as methods for students to manage stress and behavioural issues. Picture: File

“My research has found that young people’s ownership is crucial to the success of mindfulness for those students who require more creative forms of mindfulness,” she said.

“We need to speak with young people, find out about their subjective experience and hear their voices so we can find out what they are needing.

“Mindfulness needs to be tailored for their needs and situation – one size does not fit all. It needs to be enjoyable, accessible and meaningful so it is worthwhile to engage in it.”

Dr Burrows said the latest study proved more research was needed into mindfulness and its long-term effects.

“My hope is that through better-focused research we can develop more nuanced and broad insights into the mechanisms of mindfulness for young people, including what is safe and not safe,” she said.