NSW Secondary Deputy Principals Association Inc.
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Ramesh Manocha
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NSW Secondary Deputy Principals Association Inc.Workshops
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Meditation and Mental silence by
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Dr Ramesh Manocha is a medical practitioner and researcher at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Sydney. He completed his PhD at the Royal Hospital for Women, under the auspices of the School of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW). He is actively involved in professional education and health promotion in both the public and private sectors. For the past 8 years he has convened Australia’s most popular series of medical educational seminars focused on women’s and children’s health. More recently, Dr Manocha established Generation Next, a not for profit organization, aimed at promoting mental health and wellbeing of young people. Currently
Dr Manocha heads the Meditation Research Programme at Sydney
University and lectures to public and professional audiences
locally and internationally
on his research, its practical, individual and social ramifications. |
Dr. Ramesh Manocha |
The Cool Silence/Mental Stillness program is a simple strategy that is aimed at providing students with a secular, meditation-based skill to enhance resilience and wellbeing. The technique has undergone extensive scientific evaluation in Australia as part of the Meditation Research Programme (previously at the UNSW but now at Sydney University). We have now begun exploring formats by which this technique might be best adapted for implementation in schools as a teaching and learning initiative.
Recently, we have completed a quality audit of 12 month programme conducted at a primary school in Sydney in which a full class of 3rd grade children were taught meditation-based skills for 10 minutes every morning for a full year. Children were assessed by the class teacher using a the SDQ, standardised and validated mental health risk scale. Compared to the beginning of the year, children at the end of the year manifested an 80% reduction in mental health risk and a 30% improvement in social skills. Qualitative feedback was also very encouraging, showing that children enjoyed the sessions and wanted more. The class teacher felt that the children were more calm and focused as a result of the exercise and was enthusiastic for the initiative to continue.
Our aim is to further develop and evaluate this initiative with a view
to making it into a non-commercial resource for schools in the public
and private sector. Accordingly, we do not charge fees for this service
however we do ask the school for its cooperation in conducting thorough
quality audits to quantify the benefits and ensure responsible delivery
of the service. Assessments may involve either the student and/or the
teacher filling out questionnaires at relevant time points before, during
and after delivery of the strategy. This internal assessment process
is not formal research however we do hope that in the future we may move
toward such activity, at which time I imagine that formal SERAP approval
will be necessary.
Page last updated July 2008
