Reactions to Mindfulness Intervention in an Early Psychosis Program

Objective: The Mindfulness Ambassador Program (MAP) is a standardized facilitated group mindfulness-based intervention designed for youth that intersects core foundations of mindfulness with social emotional learning. The curriculum introduces participants to mindfulness practices and related activities in order to achieve the following: increased self-awareness; emotional regulation; responsive listening; communication skills; social awareness; and perspective taking. These pillars of the MAP curriculum align with psychosocial rehabilitation outcomes among those experiencing early psychosis. The objective of this study was to understand the client experience and assess the acceptability of MAP within the clinical setting of an early psychosis intervention program. Research Design and Methods: Two semi-structured focus groups explored experiences of clients (n=9) of an early psychosis intervention program who participated in a pilot trial of MAP in a clinical setting. Focus group discussions were analyzed using a thematic analysis framework. Results: Five overarching themes emerged with nuanced subthemes: (i) program engagement (overall impressions, participant involvement); (ii) learning (core mindfulness skills, personal learning and growth); (iii) direct benefits to participants’ well-being; (iv) aspects of the program (facilitation, group structure, group dynamic); and (v) challenges and opportunities for improvement. Conclusions: All participants reported benefits from and/or challenges with participating in MAP. Evaluative comments about MAP content, facilitation, and structure were expressed. This research supports MAP as a promising intervention for young people recovering from early psychosis.