Abstract

This short paper is a contribution to a debate entitled 'burning issues on teaching and learning about mental health'. The argument is that Mindfulness, which is increasingly being given attention by the helping professions as a demonstrably powerful tool in assisting mental health and well being, can be of great assistance to social workers.

An argument is made for teaching Mindfulness techniques to social work students, with reference to research which evaluates such a programme. The Benefits of learning such techniques include:the development of a powerful tool for maintaining personal well being in a very stressful occupation; and the development of a very useful therapeutic skill for use in practice with a range of service users.