title: Effectiveness of the Mindfulness in Schools Programme: non-randomised controlled feasibility study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mindfulness-based approaches for adults are effective at enhancing mental health, but few controlled trials have evaluated their effectiveness among young people.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the acceptability and efficacy of a schools-based universal mindfulness intervention to enhance mental health and well-being.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 522 young people aged 12-16 in 12 secondary schools either participated in the Mindfulness in Schools Programme (intervention) or took part in the usual school curriculum (control).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rates of acceptability were high. Relative to the controls, and after adjusting for baseline imbalances, children who participated in the intervention reported fewer depressive symptoms post-treatment (P = 0.004) and at follow-up (P = 0.005) and lower stress (P = 0.05) and greater well-being (P = 0.05) at follow-up. The degree to which students in the intervention group practised the mindfulness skills was associated with better well-being (P<0.001) and less stress (P = 0.03) at 3-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings provide promising evidence of the programme's acceptability and efficacy.
authors.affiliation: University of Exeter, Exeter; Richard Burnett, MA, UK. w.kuyken@exeter.ac.uk
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kuyken
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weare
authors.forename: Obioha C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Ukoumunne
authors.forename: Rachael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vicary
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Motton
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burnett
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hennelly
authors.forename: Felicia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huppert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008603:Mental Health; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome