Emily Slater, CEO of the charity Mindfulness in Schools Project, is committed to developing resilience and wellbeing of the next generation, as well as the adults caring for them.

Responding to the “A Mentally Healthier Nation” report released today, which predicts a mental health disaster when the current school generation emerges into the workplace, Emily says that mindfulness has a significant part to play in addressing mental health challenges.

The report warns that depression and anxiety is expected to rise by 16% by 2040.

Emily Slater, CEO of Mindfulness in Schools Project, said: “There is no doubt that we are facing a crisis of deteriorating mental health in the UK.

"Part of the solution is not only focussing on the here and now, but also preparing and equipping our future generations with better mental health resilience. In our experience, mindfulness can play a huge role in achieving this.

"Mindfulness helps develop metacognition – or the self-awareness to recognise, reflect and positively respond to our own thought patterns and emotional state.

"Developing this skill at a younger age will give our future generations the tools they need to better navigate their mental health.”