Research Programme for Mind and Body in Mental Health is a programme under VIA’s Research Centre for Health and Welfare Technology. There are approximately 15 employees associated with the program.

Our focus is to promote mental health through body awareness, sensing and a deliberate - and kind - attention in the present moment toward thoughts, emotions and behaviour.

The background for researching mind and body in mental health is:

• an increase in the number of stressed citizens with reduced well-being and increased risk of illness and loss of integration into society.
• more children, adolescents and students experience stress, anxiety and depression, with consequences to their health, well-being, learning and life path.
• the need for an efficient and sustainable healthcare system for patients, relatives and healthcare professionals, as well as the sustainable management of organisations and workplaces.

Our research areas:

• Kindergartens and schools: developing tools for cultivating body awareness, mindfulness and competences for social, emotional learning and relating.
• The education system: preventing stress, anxiety and depression among students.
• The healthcare system: e.g., 1) treating lower back and pelvic pain among pregnant women with psychomotor therapy, and 2) preventing recurrent depression among vulnerable citizens using mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.
• Organisations and workplaces: working with promoting well-being in private and public hospitals and academic workplaces.

You can find more information about this program, our research projects and experts on this site and on VIA’s web page.

Leader of Research Programme for Mind and Body in Mental Health is docent, ph.d., cand. scient. and Master of Positive Psychology Jesper Dahlgaard ([email protected]).