Ruth Baer, academic visitor at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre from the University of Kentucky, reflects on the Buddhist and psychological perspectives on compassion, ideas originally discussed in an Oxford Mindfulness Centre masterclass with Willem Kuyken and Christina Feldman. Willem and Christina define compassion as the capacity to meet pain with kindness, empathy, equanimity, and patience, and Ruth asks whether through the continued study and practice of mindfulness we can cultivate deep compassion.

We were visited by Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, Royal Society Research Fellow and Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, as part of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre Seminar Series in late 2015. Laura Taylor discusses Sarah-Jayne’s presentation of her research into the adolescent brain, highlighting the differences in adolescent neurocognitive development compared with that of children and young adults.

Willem Kuyken asks whether we have passed a tipping point in the narrative around mental health, and considers what the future will hold as we see greater awareness, normalisation and compassion towards mental health issues. Willem asks whether our schools, NHS, workplaces and criminal justice system can be changed so that they promote and support mental health.

The Mindful Nation UK All-Party Parliamentary Group report launched on 20 October 2015. Journalist and Author Ed Halliwell reflects on this landmark day for the mindfulness field, offering an insight into the launch event in Westminster.

Willem Kuyken and Halley Cohen reflect on the story of Di Cowan, a client in an MBCT class that was part of an MBCT research trial. Di used what he learned to manage his depression, but went on to demonstrate incredible resilience, strength, and compassion in dealing with his health issues using MBCT techniques.

The MYRIAD project team discuss the Mindfulness and Resilience in Adolescence project, a Wellcome Trust Strategic Award that is investigating whether and how mindfulness training can be used to prevent depression and build resilience during early adolescence.

Willem Kuyken, Director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, discusses the “long view” of mindfulness and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Willem asks what, will support sustainable development of the mindfulness field?