Mindfulness-Based Programs are structured trainings in group settings by trained instructors that incorporates training in mindfulness practices such as meditation, breathing exercises, and body awareness to help manage stressful mental states through observation of thoughts and emotions without reacting to them.

In a recent meta-analysis study, published in Nature Mental Health, researchers found that these studies improve psychological distress among adult participants, with the effects lasting up to 6 months.

The study included 13 trials from eight countries, including 2,371 adults who had enrolled in mindfulness-based programs. The researchers utilized Individual Participant Data meta-analysis to improve the accuracy and provide a more detail analysis of the training.

With high statistical confidence, they found that the mindfulness-based programs improved psychological distress in the adult participants and the improvements lasted for 6 months.

It is important to know that many mindfulness-based programs are only for a few weeks, and for one to fully receive the benefits, they must treat it as a life-long practice rather than coming in with a drug-mindset that they are just going to get the training to fix something and go back to life as usual.

J Galante et al. Systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials assessing mindfulness-based programs for mental health promotion. Nature Mental Health. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-023-00081-5