Looking Beyond: Meditation and Mindfulness: A Cultural Bridge to Mental Well-being-View Presentation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar titled "Meditation and Mindfulness: A Cultural Bridge to Mental Wellbeing" was part of the American Psychiatric Association's "Looking Beyond Mental Health Equity" series, moderated by Dr. Lisa Fortuna. The panel featured Dr. Sastry and Dr. Jeffrey Pollux, who discussed the integration of meditation and mindfulness in mental health care, especially for underserved communities.<br /><br />Dr. Sastry emphasized the accessibility and simplicity of mindfulness practices like breath-focused exercises, which have shown benefits in reducing depression and anxiety. She suggested incorporating mindfulness into daily activities to make it less intimidating for patients unfamiliar with meditation.<br /><br />Dr. Pollux highlighted his work with indigenous and Black communities, focusing on culturally responsive mindfulness practices. He discussed using indigenous traditions in mindfulness training and integrating tools like sound healing to resonate with specific communities. Both panelists stressed the importance of clinicians developing their mindfulness practice to effectively incorporate it into their work.<br /><br />Addressing physician burnout, the conversation acknowledged the systemic nature of the issue while suggesting mindfulness as a tool for improving personal wellbeing and professional resilience. The discussion underscored the need for culturally tailored approaches when applying mindfulness techniques and the importance of community engagement in these efforts.<br /><br />The session concluded with resources for further exploration and a call to action for healthcare providers to integrate these practices into their routines and patient care, highlighting the transformative potential of consistent, culturally sensitive mindfulness practices.

Keywords

Meditation

Mindfulness

Mental Wellbeing

Cultural Bridge

Underserved Communities

Culturally Responsive

Indigenous Traditions

Physician Burnout

Healthcare Providers

Community Engagement