[ti:More US Schools Are Taking Breaks for Meditation]
[al:Education Report]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2024-08-14]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]A class of third-grade students in the American state of Georgia had just a few days left until summer vacation would begin. And lunchtime was only an hour away.
[00:15.29]But the children, who attend Roberta T. Smith Elementary School in the city of Rex, were in no hurry to leave.
[00:26.04]They were ready for one of their favorite parts of the day.
[00:32.04]The children closed their eyes and moved their thumbs from their foreheads down to their hearts.
[00:40.03]"Listen to the chimes," said the teacher, Kim Franklin. "Remember to breathe."
[00:46.99]Across the country, schools like Smith Elementary have been introducing mental health sessions that include yoga, meditation and mindfulness exercises.
[01:03.47]Students do these exercises in addition to traditional math, reading and science classes.
[01:12.30]More American students have faced mental health struggles following the COVID-19 pandemic.
[01:22.63]In 2023, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that more than one-third of students were affected by feelings of long-term sadness and hopelessness. 
[01:43.01]The agency suggested schools use mindfulness practices to help students deal with their stress and emotions.
[01:54.78]"We know that our teenagers and adolescents have really strained in their mental health," CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen told The Associated Press.
[02:09.20]"There are real skills that we can give our teens to make sure that they are coping with some big emotions."
[02:19.64]Research has found that school-based mindfulness programs can help, especially in poor communities where students face higher levels of stress.
[02:33.90]GreenLight Fund Atlanta helps school systems in the state of Georgia pay for a mindfulness program called Inner Explorer. 
[02:46.46]That is the program used at Smith Elementary, where more than two-thirds of students are Black.
[02:54.96]Joli Cooper is GreenLight Fund Atlanta's executive director. 
[03:01.48]Cooper said it was important to the group to support communities of color in the area.
[03:09.46]"When you look at the numbers, unfortunately, in Georgia, the number of children of color with suicidal thoughts and success is quite high," Cooper said. 
[03:24.02]"When you look at the number of psychologists available for these children, there are not enough psychologists of color."
[03:35.23]Information from the CDC shows that Black youth have the fastest-growing suicide rate among racial groups.
[03:46.07]Between 2007 and 2020, the suicide rate among Black children and teens between the ages of 10 to 17 increased by 144 percent.
[04:02.51]Nationwide, children in schools that serve mostly students of color have less access to mental health professionals than children in schools that serve mostly white students.
[04:18.36]The Inner Explorer program guides students and teachers through five-to-10-minute sessions of breathing, meditation and reflection several times a day.
[04:33.86]The program is used at over 100 school systems across the U.S.
[04:40.39]Teachers and administrators say they have noticed a difference in their students since they've added mindfulness into their daily activities.
[04:52.02]Nine-year-old Aniyah Woods is a student in Kim Franklin's class at Smith Elementary. 
[05:01.31]Aniyah said the program has helped her "calm down" and "not stress anymore."
[05:08.13]She added, "It made me feel peaceful."
[05:11.77]Malachi Smith, also 9, has used his exercises at home. His father helps guide him through meditation.
[05:23.21]"You can relax... and when I calm myself down, I realize I am an excellent scholar," Malachi said.
[05:32.63]I'm Anna Matteo.