Mental health considerations
Please note that our events are not intended as a treatment for mental health conditions. Meditation and periods of silence can be experienced by some as quite challenging.
Day retreats
If you have any concerns that you might be detrimentally affected by participating in one of our day events or retreats, please discuss your concerns with a relevant mental health professional before registering.
Longer residential retreats
These are silent retreats: apart from during individual or group meetings with the teachers you will be invited into noble silence for the duration of the event.
Meditation retreats can be very nourishing; however, as they require sustained meditation practice, they also need some stability of psychological health. If you have recently (within the past year or so) experienced significant trauma or psychiatric illness, or if you are currently experiencing acute emotional distress such as serious depression or anxiety, it may not be the best time for you to participate in a retreat. The teachers will not be able to give you the kind of individual psychological care you need at this time. A setting with more opportunities for interpersonal engagement may be more appropriate.If you are currently under the care of a mental health professional, please discuss your attendance with them. You should be in a relatively stable period of mental well-being and have adequate psychological resilience.
Should you experience any difficulties whilst participating in one of our events and require support, please contact the retreat manager or leader or a relevant mental health professional if you are joining online as we are not able to offer support through a crisis online.
Looking out for each other – safeguarding
As Buddhists we seek to live harmlessly. ALBA (Amaravati Lay Buddhist Association) recognises that ensuring the welfare and well-being of all is the responsibility of everyone. In addition, it recognises that children, young people, and adults at risk can be the victims of harm. If you are concerned about an individual or have a Safeguarding concern, please contact [email protected]. If a child, young person or adult is in immediate danger please call the emergency services without delay.
