Although widely perceived as a religious practice, mindfulness, according to a health expert, is a recommended treatment for people with mental ill-health. It can also be applied by those wanting to improve their mental and wellbeing. This was highlighted at the 5th International Conference on Medical and Health Sciences 2019 held in the capital.
Mindfulness helps keep the focus on one’s mind. According to experts, studies have proved the practice to be effective for conditions such as anxiety and depression. Relating to the story of the Buddha, health professionals said, meditation may not gain one anything but it will help lose anger, anxiety, depression, insecurity, fear of old age and death.
A psychiatrist, Dr Chencho Dorji, said being a culturally rich Buddhist country, Bhutan needs to actively utilise mindfulness practice in daily life.
“When you are in the mindful state, what actually happens is you are either watching your breath or you are just staying in the situation where you are letting your thoughts come and go and you are watching it. But you are not reacting to it, you are not chasing the thoughts. So what happens is, when you sit in that stillness peace dawns on you, your breathing slows down, your heartbeat slows down, and your muscles start relaxing. So in that state any tension people have, it can go away.”
He added, as much as it is a therapy for mental ill-health, mindfulness serves as a preventive action.
Besides the practice of mindfulness, the conference also saw a presentation of other best approaches for improving mental health care. It included parental guidance, diagnosing mental illness through Digital Technology and Artificial Intelligence and supporting the special needs children between the ages of 0 and 5 through the International Child Development Programme.
Sangay Dorji
