Uh my name is Sarita Jadav. I work as a national program officer in the UNESCO South Asia regional office based in New Delhi. And the work that uh I am involved in is on uh promoting health and wellness of learners and uh promote you know promoting safety and security and preventing violence in schools.I'd like to start by asking all of you over here in this esteemed gathering to please close your eyes for 15 seconds. Close your eyes for 15 seconds and imagine a 15-year-old child who is waking up with an al ...

Hi everyone. Have you ever been in a situation where you came home from work, very busy day, and you were quite tired, maybe even exhausted, and so you decided to go to bed just a little bit earlier? You're lying in bed and after 30 minutes or so you suddenly realize I am not falling asleep and then this feeling creeps up on you a jolt of anxiety, frustration and you start to think about all the reasons why you should fall asleep right now. Maybe you have an important meeting, a deadline, an exam, a TED tal ...

Burnout & Well-being in Healthcare - Healthcare professionals often treat burnout and sleeplessness as a rite of passage, but this is neurologically damaging [2][3] - Chronic stress, fueled by the desire to be good enough, rewires brains, impacting decision-making, empathy, and self-regulation [7][8] - Sacrifices made by healthcare professionals can turn them from caregivers into casualties of their own profession [10] - Constant exposure to stress can shrink the hippocampus, impairing memory and learning [14] - Chronic lack of sleep affects cognitive function, impulse control, and problem-solving, while increasing anxiety and irritability [16] - Overconsumption of caffeine, while temporarily boosting alertness, can increase cortisol levels, exacerbating the stress cycle [16] Solutions & Recommendations - Self-care, stress management, and emotional boundaries are essential tools to protect against burnout [17] - Finding balance involves small choices, such as engaging in activities outside of work [18] - Recovery can involve activities like walking in nature, spending time with loved ones, or simply allowing the brain to reset [19] - True healing starts within, and healthcare professionals should prioritize their own well-being [21]

Neuroinflammation and its Impact - Neuroinflammation, often ignored, can accelerate memory loss, worsen anxiety and stress, and facilitate Alzheimer's dementia [5][6] - Factors like poor diet, lack of restorative sleep, and absence of joy can fuel neuroinflammation, leading to a decline in the profoundness of life experiences [7][8] - Surgery-induced inflammation can accelerate neuroinflammation, potentially triggering cognitive decline in vulnerable patients [9][10] Meditation as a Solution - Meditation, rooted in Indian traditions, offers a solution to cool neuroinflammation, especially when delivered in a contemporary and accessible way [12] - A 21-minute multimodal meditation process, combining alternative nostril breathing, chanting, rapid breathing, and breath watching, proves beneficial [13] - Meditators practicing this process showed the lowest levels of stress and the highest levels of well-being during the pandemic [15][16] Scientific Evidence of Meditation's Benefits - Meditators showed C-reactive protein levels one-third of that of controls, indicating a low inflamed state [18] - Meditators from a retreat upregulated genes responsible for fighting against COVID, as published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences [19][20] - Meditation can lead to a better gut microbiome with increased lactobacillus and other beneficial bacteria, reducing gut inflammation [25] Brain Function and Connectivity - Meditation enhances the connection between the switch center (salience network) and the mind-wandering center (default mode network), improving the ability to switch between tasks and mind-wandering states [28] - A 15-minute meditation process enhances long-range connectivity and integration in the brain, similar to the effects of a good night's sleep [32][33] - Meditators showed a brain age six years younger compared to individuals without the practice, and 15-20 years younger than those with mild cognitive impairment and dementia [37] Holistic Benefits - Meditation, combined with diet, good sleep, and joy, contributes to a healthy brain [38] - Meditation can influence adherence to a dietary plan, such as eating twice a day with 50% raw plant-based diet [38] - Meditation increases the production of anandamide, also known as the bliss molecule, which acts at the joy center in the brain [39][40]