Since 2011 we have offered medical students who are experiencing symptoms of low mood, anxiety or stress the opportunity to take an 8 week course in mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT).

Are the courses just for medical students?
Yes, at the moment the courses are just available to medical students. The student counselling service teaches mindfulness as a 6 week course which is available for all students: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/student-counselling/services-offered/groups/

How can I access the MBCT course?
Medical students can access the course through referral from GP student health services, student counseling or through contact with the student advisory service. Or, once you have checked the latest dates for the next course and made sure you can attend all 8 sessions, you can email Dr Alice Malpass directly requesting a place on the next upcoming course, a.malpass@bristol.ac.uk.

Is my attendance confidential?
Yes. No-one is told you are taking the mindfulness course.

What do I have to do before the course starts?
The mindfulness teacher will send you some brief health questionnaires and a pre-course questionnaire to explore your reasons for attending as well as your experience of any recent upsetting events.

Does everyone who wants to attend the course get a place?
Places are limited to 12 students in each group and the courses are popular so prompt booking is advised. The pre-course questionnaires help the mindfulness teacher identify any student for whom the course may be inappropriate for at this time. This is because the 8 week course is a big commitment in terms of time and can sometimes be challenging and for this reason it is best not to undertake the course when life events feel particularly overwhelming. We usually recommend students seek one-to-one support and then come back to take the mindfulness course in the following semester.

Do all year groups attend the mindfulness courses?
Yes students from all years of study attend. Mixing year groups in a small group learning environment helps foster a supportive and safe group space-with students learning from each other.

When and where do the courses take place?
Courses run on Wednesday afternoons, usually 3-5pm when you do not have teaching and clinical commitments. The courses are usually taught in room G12 or room LG03 in Canynge Hall. Sometimes we offer a course on a Tuesday evening 5.30-7.30pm, which is taught at the multi-faith chaplaincy or the vault rooms at student health.

Dates for next course:

Autumn MBCT Course 2015
October 21st Pre-requisite - Orientation
October 28th Pre-requisite – Orientation
8 week MBCT course
November 4th, 11th, 18th. 25th
December 3rd, 9th, 16th
Plus one date in January 2016 to be agreed as a group.

Spring MBCT Course 2016
January 27th Pre-requisite - Orientation
February 3rd Pre-requisite - Orientation
8 week MBCT Course
February 10th, 17th, 24th
March 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd
Plus one date in May to be agreed as a group.