Being Kind to Yourself - Mindfulness on the TAFE Campus
This past October was Mental Health Awareness Month, and the TAFE Ultimo campus raised awareness for mental health by hosting events and providing resources to support student well-being and encourage open conversations about mental health.
Mindfulness, specifically mindfulness meditation, is about cultivating awareness and presence in the moment, paying attention to thoughts, feelings, and sensations in order to develop self-awareness and emotional regulation.
This practice helps reduce stress, enhance mental clarity, and promote well-being.
On the TAFE campus in Ultimo, the counselling department is foundational for promoting positive mental health and support for students. This includes counselling sessions and, recently, a weekly Mindfulness Group.
The mindfulness group began as an online group call during the Covid-19 lockdown. However, once classes went back face to face, these sessions went in-person. The group is now in its second year.
TAFE counsellor Milo Crocchini runs these sessions every Tuesday in the library. However, according to Crocchini, this is very flexible and can be adjusted to allow people to attend.
There is a plan to potentially have the sessions start later in the afternoon to allow them to decompress after class is finished at the end of the day.
Crocchini says it doesn’t necessarily have to bring enlightenment but can be seen as an “opportunity to decompress and connect with the idea of mindfulness in a calm and friendly environment”.
The main idea is “to try not to be perfect and be kind to ourselves”, Crocchini said.
Over the past few years, mindfulness has become a well-known and utilised practice. Popular apps such as Calm, Headspace, and Waking Up have been massive in promoting and making mindfulness practice more accessible.
However, these apps come with a price tag, as most subscriptions range between $60 to $200 annually.
Fortunately, the Mindfulness Group is free and open to all students. Crocchini believes that face-to-face sessions can be less threatening and more structured and encourage people to continue in the future.
“Apps in our pocket doesn’t lead to practising it,” Crocchini said. “Gym equipment doesn’t mean you will use it. Having an appointment with real people can be that gentle nudge to actually practise mindfulness.”
With social media and increased phone use becoming the norm, there have been tremendous effects on mental health and well-being.
According to Crocchini, social media promotes a sense of not being present and perpetuates comparisons with others and anxiety.
“Social media is not the here and now … it’s the complete opposite; it allows people to project on others and compare.
“If everything is too hard, just lose yourself in the digital environment.”
The mindfulness sessions allow students to manage their self-esteem, potential difficulties interacting with teachers and students, and anxieties around assessments, presentations, and exams.
For Radio and Podcasting student Karl Svikis, mindfulness practises have been able to help immensely in terms of the stresses of TAFE workloads.
“Sometimes when you can look at all the assessments, it can be quite overwhelming,” Svikis said.
“When you look at the due dates and you have a few due at the same time and all of these things due all at once, I find being mindful and having a more grounded approach helps a lot.”
According to Svikis, you can never learn too much about mindfulness, as it has been significant in overcoming anxiety and being overwhelmed.
He said it’s been productive in learning “how to approach things calmly and get yourself out of a negative headspace empathetically, rather than in a panic”.
The Mindfulness Group is a positive service that provides tools to handle the pressures of coursework effectively, promoting mental clarity, resilience, and a positive mindset.
Crocchini brings a friendly approach to the sessions and says that no prior knowledge, experience or practice of mindfulness is required to attend. By facilitating a supportive space for relaxation and self-awareness, the Mindfulness Group contributes to a healthier learning environment.
If you or anyone you know needs help:
Lifeline - 13 11 14
1800 Respect - 1800 737 732
Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636
Headspace - 1800 650 890
