Mindfulness conference held in Blackburn Cathedral

Around 150 people from across the NHS and public sector in Lancashire and South Cumbria filled Blackburn Cathedral to learn about mindfulness.

The event, organised by Canon Michael Wedgeworth and supported by Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria, aimed to give people the basic awareness about mindfulness and the techniques to use.

Michael said:

"People who work in the NHS are under huge pressure, all of the time, and it was intriguing how many people were really keen to get to know about this mindfulness thing as a way of dealing with, not so much patients, but coping with their own pressures, stresses and strains."

Professor Mark Williams, former director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre and author of many books on the subject, lead the sessions.

Professor Williams said:

"Mindfulness is a translation of an ancient word which meant 'awareness', when you call it awareness it's obvious that we're all aware some of the time, but quite mindless at others.

Mindfulness is a way of practicing how to become more aware by learning to pay attention, moment by moment, intentionally, without lots of harsh self judgement."

Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria supported this event, with mental health being one of the priority areas for the programme moving forwards, not only for the general public but also for the NHS and public sector workforce.