Local psychologist is introducing mindfulness to secondary school pupils

Interest in mindfulness and meditation has risen significantly in recent years as people have sought new ways to calm the mind and cope with the stresses and strains of everyday living.

Local psychologist Louise Shanagher believes such practices can have significant benefits not just for adults but for younger people, too.

The Kiltoom native runs classes in mindfulness and meditation for children and has recently been visiting schools to help teach students about the ways these methods can help to improve their mental health.

'It’s really important to take children’s mental health and wellbeing seriously,' Louise told the Westmeath Independent.

'I think it’s just as important, if not more important, than academic achievement, especially when you look at statistics around depression, suicide, and drug issues.

'A lot of the methods I would be using with the children have been shown to help prevent these issues and to help people in those situations.'

She has worked with children as young as pre-school age and has also been visiting secondary schools, including Athlone Community College, where she met with Transition Year and Leaving Cert Applied students.

'I would be focused on mindfulness, well-being, helping the students to manage stress and anxiety, and (showing) them how to find a natural way to relax without the use of alcohol or different things.

'We all have this ability within ourselves. Everybody can do it once they learn how to do it – you can find a place of peace and relaxation within yourself even when times are difficult. I teach them that skill.

'I suppose the big thing I teach the teenagers with mindfulness is to be ‘in the now’, to understand that we can’t change our past, the past is over, and we don’t really know what the future holds. It’s about letting the past go and trying not to worry. Really it’s about being in the moment. When they do that it can help them with their schoolwork, sport, concentration, and overall well-being.

'It can help in so many areas and this is all backed up as well with science and studies. There’s a lot of research behind (the benefits) as well.'

She said the reaction from the students in Athlone Community College was overwhelmingly positive, with some saying they had started using mindfulness practices before matches or tests.

'I was blown away by the response, because I was a lit bit apprehensive going in first. I didn’t know if they’d actually like it,' said Louise.

'A lot of them said it really helped them, particularly with anxiety issues and negative thinking. A lot of them said they were now sleeping properly for the first time in a long time. It was amazing, really, to be honest.'

Louise studied psychology, psychotherapy, and play therapy, and went on to write the children's meditation book 'It's Always There' in collaboration with artist Rose Finnerty. She and Rose also created ‘affirmation cards’ for children which were published last month and quickly sold out. New stock is on the way.

Louise said the cards featured phrases such as ‘I love to be me’, ‘today is a great day’, and ‘my mind is calm and clear’. These are designed to 'boost self-esteem' and encourage 'positive thoughts around ourselves and our world,' she explained.

'If you look in a holistic shop you’ll find plenty of these cards for adults, but for children it’s quite rare. So, I suppose, that’s what makes these different.

'There’s a picture in each one and a note at the back for children, and then there’s a note for parents included in the pack. We’ve also made some posters of them as well which children can put up in their rooms or which can be used in classrooms.'

In addition to her work with children, Louise is an associate lecturer in psychology in AIT and has held mindfulness and meditation sessions with social care and childcare students at the Institute.

In addition, she is starting a new series of meditation and mindfulness classes called Sky Like Mind.

'These classes will be for children, teenagers, adults and I’ll have some specifically for using mindfulness to cope with pain, which is something new,' she said.

'The classes will be run from Athlone psychotherapy centre (at 2 Garden Vale) and from ‘Venue 4’ (on Bastion Street).'

More details about the classes, and Louise's other projects, are available from the ‘Sky Like Mind’ and 'Lou Lou Rose' facebook pages, the website: www.loulourose.net or by emailing: louise.shanagher@gmail.com.