How to maintain your mental well-being in an insecure world
Thursday, 3 November, 2022 5:30 pmMind Science
Special Donor Appreciation Event! Join your fellow Mind Science donors for a casual evening of nibbles, wine, and beer, and learn valuable lessons on maintaining well-being in these fraught times.
After more than two years of a global pandemic, mental health issues are widespread. Long periods of isolation, loss of loved ones, and difficult global developments cause anxiety in many. How can people maintain their mental well-being in such an insecure world?
This talk will take you on a journey of evidence-based methods that have been scientifically shown to enhance or maintain well-being, even in difficult times. It will remind us that positive relationships are amongst the most important factors for our well-being, and that maintaining such high-quality relationships is not up to chance. There are proven methods that can help people connect with others deeply, for example structured meditation methods, which we investigated at the University of Pennsylvania--funded by the Mind Science Foundation. You will also hear about the effects of such methods on the body and the brain and about ways to concretely implement them in everyday life.
Especially when times are tough, it is important to remember that we are all in this together. And that going an extra mile to authentically connect with others in the “here and now” may be key to true meaning and joy in life.
Space is limited! Invitations to this special Donor Appreciation event arriving in your inbox soon! Want to become a donor? Click here to learn more.
Vera Ludwig, PhD
Vera Ludwig is a research associate in the Platt Labs at the University of Pennsylvania. Vera currently investigates the effectiveness and physiological mechanisms of various interventions designed to increase interpersonal connectedness and well-being. This includes research on the so-called contemplative dyad meditation, a type of meditation that people carry out together rather than alone, sponsored by the Mind Science Foundation. Moreover, she is an expert on the neural mechanisms of self-regulation and has developed a framework regarding the role of mindfulness for fostering successful goal-pursuit.
Vera completed her PhD 2013 in psychology (focus on cognitive neuroscience) at Humboldt University of Berlin. Before, she obtained a BSc in psychobiology from the University of Amsterdam and a MSc in Human Cognitive Neuropsychology from the University of Edinburgh. In 2018/2019, she worked as a post-doc at the Mindfulness Center at Brown University; and since January 2020, she has been working at the University of Pennslvania. Besides her scientific work as a neuroscientist and psychologist, she has also worked as a trainer, meditation teacher, and group coach.