Yoga and Meditation Program (YMP) in the care of mental suffering of university students

Abstract

Objective: To report and discuss the implementation of the Yoga and Meditation Program (YMP) as a care strategy aimed at the mental suffering of university students in the health field. Data synthesis: The YMP was developed in 2020 at a university in the State of São Paulo during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by an increase in student mental suffering. This program followed health promotion principles by valuing the participants' singularities and promoting skills for conscious care choices. It was structured into two cycles, each with 13 weeks of classes, organized based on the theoretical-practical framework of yoga in dialogue with the Klauss Vianna Technique (KVT), expanding body awareness. Practices included breathing, psychophysical postures, concentration, relaxation, meditation, mudrās, mantras, and the ethical principles of yāmas and nyāmas. To evaluate the effects of the YMP, instruments such as the MYMOP (self-reported symptoms), Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) (mental suffering), Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) were used. Complementarily, flexible-script interviews were conducted to understand the meanings and representations attributed to the practice. Conclusion: Instruments and reports indicated a reduction in physical and emotional symptoms, mental suffering, and perceived stress, as well as an improvement in sleep quality. During confinement, the YMP promoted presence, time for oneself, and calmness, strengthening self-perception, tension management, and care skills. Therefore, the YMP proved effective as a mental health care strategy, with the potential for replication in universities to benefit the well-being of future health professionals and contribute to healthy and supportive academic environments.