The Centre for Excellence in Mindfulness Research continues to provide three-times weekly drop-in mindfulness sessions to help our university community look after its mental health.

By Mr Shamim Quadir (Senior Communications Officer), Published

Today is University Mental Health Day, which brings together the university community to make mental health a university-wide priority and create ongoing year-round change to the future of student mental health.

Launched in April 2019, the goal of the Centre for Excellence in Mindfulness (CEMR) at City, University of London is to extend the scientific evidence base on mindfulness initiatives in diverse contexts and help shape the next generation of mindfulness research, practice, and policy.

As part of CEMR’s commitment to advancing mindfulness practice within the university and wider community, it has been delivering lunchtime mindfulness sessions since its inception, which increased from weekly to three times a week since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Jutta Tobias Mortlock describes the concept of mindfulness and the online CEMR sessions

Initially hosted in-person on campus, the sessions moved online when the pandemic struck in order to continue to provide a welcoming and supportive space for City students, staff and anyone else to practice being in the present moment with non-judgemental awareness.

The mindfulness sessions are delivered by a team of qualified professionals, led by Dr Trudi Edginton and Dr Jutta Tobias Mortlock, co-directors of CEMR, and Ailbhe Lynch, Organisational Development Manager at City.

Dr Jutta Tobias Mortlock (left) and  Dr Trudi Edginton (right)

Reflecting on the goal of the mindfulness sessions in supporting mental health at the university, Dr Tobias Mortlock said:

“Making time for a little self-care is helpful. Doing this in a friendly, safe space with others who also want to get better at self-care is even more helpful. That’s why we’re doing this.”

On the importance of University Mental Health Day, Dr Tobias Mortlock reflected:

University Mental Health Day is an important opportunity to recognise the challenges to mental health that may be encountered by those studying or working within a university environment, and to highlight the many steps that can be taken by university communities to address these and help maintain everyone’s well-being.

Join a session

Facilitated mindfulness sessions take place from 12:30 – 1pm every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (except Bank Holidays).

Anyone is welcome to join. The sessions are currently delivered through Zoom. Please contact Eliza Wong for details on how to join the session.

For more details about the Centre for Excellence in Mindfulness Research, please visit CEMR website.

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