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The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)’s Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine), in collaboration with the CUHK Thomas Jing Centre for Mindfulness Research and Training, is hosting the “International Conference on Mindfulness – Asia Pacific (ICMAP) 2025” from today (27 June) for three days. This is Hong Kong’s first international professional mindfulness event, aiming to provide a platform for exchange and fostering collaboration among experts and scholars worldwide to promote innovative developments in psychological health interventions.

With the theme “Cultivating Collective Well-being: Mindfulness and Contemplative Practices for an Interconnected World”, the conference has attracted over 300 experts, scholars, healthcare professionals, educators and mindfulness enthusiasts from 28 countries and regions. Participants will explore the innovative applications of mindfulness and contemplation in addressing contemporary psychological health crises, promoting holistic well-being for individuals, families and communities.

In-depth exploration of the diverse development of mindfulness and contemplation in psychological therapy

According to Harvard University research, half of the world’s population will experience a mental health disorder. Mental health problems have become a significant public health challenge worldwide. Mindfulness-based intervention is a scientifically supported cognitive therapeutic approach that involves consciously bringing attention back to the present moment with a non-judgmental mindset, allowing individuals to become aware of their thoughts, emotions and bodily responses while accepting their experiences as they are. Contemplation, rooted in Buddhism, involves deeper meditation aimed at gaining insights into the nature of things through observing one’s internal experiences.

Professor Samuel Wong Yeung-shan, Director of the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care at CU Medicine and Director of the CUHK Thomas Jing Centre for Mindfulness Research and Training, stated: “We established the CUHK Thomas Jing Centre for Mindfulness Research and Training in 2018 to promote and popularise mindfulness through education, research and training, enhancing public mental and physical health and alleviating the burden on healthcare resources. To further explore the diverse development and potential of mindfulness and contemplation in psychological therapy, we are hosting Hong Kong’s first international mindfulness event, bringing together top international scholars and experts to share the latest research and practical experiences, and showcasing Hong Kong’s leading position in promoting mindfulness research in Asia.”

Dr Lam Ching-choi, Member of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong SAR and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Mental Health, attended the opening ceremony and commented: “The Government attaches great importance to the mental health of the public and understands that mental health goes beyond medical care.  Mindfulness, which involves a systematic process of training to increase self-awareness and understanding, can enhance emotional resilience and fostering healthier communities.”

Top international mindfulness experts invited to share their research or practical experiences at the conference include Professor Willem Kuyken from the University of Oxford, Buddhist author Stephen Batchelor and Professor Christine Wamsler from Lund University. The event will also feature a diverse range of presentations, panel discussions and workshops covering topics including health and well-being, education and lifespan development, social justice and equality, the environment and sustainability, and peace and conflict resolution, fostering in-depth cross-sectoral exchange.

CUHK’s latest research shows mindfulness helps elderly people feel less lonely

Over the past 20 years, CUHK research team has conducted more than 15 mindfulness-related studies, exploring its applications in managing various conditions in community settings, including chronic pain, anxiety, depression and loneliness. The latest research presented at the conference confirms that mindfulness-based interventions can significantly reduce feelings of loneliness among older adults.

The results showed that older adults who received eight-week professional mindfulness training experienced a reduction in their loneliness score from an initial average of 4.84 to 4.18 one year after completing the training, with 7.3% of participants saying they had gone from feeling lonely to not feeling lonely. Encouragingly, anxiety levels (STAI-trait) among participants in the mindfulness training group continued to decline, demonstrating the long-term benefits of mindfulness training on mental health.

Professor Wong said: “The initial research results demonstrate that mindfulness-based intervention appears to reduce loneliness and improve mental health at same time. Further analysis will be conducted to compare the results with control group. This will provide valuable evidence for alleviating loneliness among older adults, enhancing their mental health and providing important evidence for clinical practice. In light of the growing challenges of population ageing, mindfulness training emerges as a vital tool to enhance quality of life for the elderly.”

About the CUHK Centre for Mindfulness Research and Training

The CUHK Thomas Jing Centre for Mindfulness Research and Training is the first university-based centre in Asia dedicated to mindfulness research and training. The team aims to conduct high-quality research to provide scientific support and evidence for various mindfulness-based interventions and to train more professionals to deliver mindfulness therapy and education.