More US schools integrate mindfulness to support students' mental health
Schools across the United States are increasingly incorporating yoga, meditation, and mindfulness exercises into their daily schedules to help students manage stress and emotions. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed these practices last year, especially for low-income communities where students experience high levels of stress or trauma. Inner Explorer, an audio platform, provides the mindfulness program, which guides students and teachers through five-to-10-minute sessions of breathing, meditating, and reflecting several times a day.
The program has been adopted by Atlanta Public Schools and over 100 other districts nationwide. GreenLight Fund Atlanta, a network that matches communities with local nonprofits, provides funding to help Georgia school systems implement these mindfulness programs. While some critics argue that these approaches promote progressive ideas about race, gender, and sexuality, advocates maintain that they bring much-needed attention to students' mental well-being. Teachers and administrators have reported noticeable improvements in student behavior since incorporating these practices into their routines.
