CNA’s Talking Point Series on Loneliness, featuring the MBSR program

Footage from Channel News Asia, for the Talking Point Series “Am I Lonely?” (October 2024)

Carmen Teo and I were approached by Channel News Asia (CNA) to participate in the Talking Point Series “Am I lonely”, exploring how the practice of Mindfulness can help alleviate the sense of loneliness that many young adults encounter in modern times.

The CNA crew came in to film the last session of the 8-week Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program we were teaching together at Singapore Management University (SMU).

The interest from CNA was kindled by an article from UCLA, where researchers reported that the MBSR program could reduce feelings of loneliness in older adults.

Among some of the key points brought forward in this series, Mindfulness can help us feel more ‘at home’ with our own experience—more comfortable within our own skin, more aware of our emotional needs—including the need to reach out to friends or family when feeling lonely, and challenge our own perception of the feeling of loneliness (Why am I feeling lonely?).

The MBSR program also includes reflection and practice on interpersonal mindfulness, which supports communication skills and can help strengthen relationships—especially with our close ones.

Additionally, the sense of community that is fostered in an 8-week Mindfulness-based program such as MBSR contributes to a feeling of connection between the participants. By listening to each others’ experiences throughout the program (through small and big group discussions), participants get to realize that they are probably not alone in feeling what they are feeling.