What specific benefits of meditation are highlighted by the WHO?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes several significant benefits of meditation, particularly mindfulness meditation, for both mental and physical well-being.

Here are some of the specific benefits of meditation highlighted by the WHO:

• Stress Reduction: The WHO emphasizes that meditation, especially mindfulness meditation, is a powerful self-care tool that can help manage stress. It promotes relaxation and helps lower levels of cortisol, the hormone associated with stress.

• Improved Mental Health: Meditation can aid in the treatment of anxiety and enhance overall well-being. It helps in managing symptoms of anxiety by promoting a sense of calm and focus. In addition, the WHO acknowledges meditation's ability to improve emotional stability and self-regulation.

• Physical Health: The WHO recognizes that meditation contributes to better physical health, such as by lowering blood pressure.

• Coping Mechanisms: WHO's discussions on stress management underscore the importance of learning coping mechanisms, such as meditation, to support both mental and physical health.

• Overall Well-being: The WHO recognizes meditation as a practice that can enhance overall well-being, and advocates incorporating mindfulness meditation into daily routines, even for a few minutes each day.

• Mental Health Benefits of Yoga: The WHO also acknowledges the mental health benefits of practices like yoga, which often incorporate meditative elements. The WHO recognizes yoga’s contributions to lifelong health and well-being, emphasizing its role in promoting healthier populations and a more equitable and sustainable world.

• Accessibility: Technology has expanded access to meditation, with apps and online platforms enabling individuals to practice anywhere and anytime. The WHO, in collaboration with the Government of India, has launched a yoga app called WHO mYoga to help people stay active and healthy.

In addition to recognizing the benefits of meditation, the WHO is committed to improving mental health through various initiatives such as the Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2030 and the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health (2019–2023). The WHO also promotes mental health through programs like the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP).