On the 26th of April, 9:00-10:00 AM, CET, the Young Academy of Europe organizes an event entilted “Mindfulness based practices to improve mental health in academia” featuring Gábor Fazekas, who will provide some practical and theoretical introduction into mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindful self-compassion techniques. These practices aim to facilitate self-reflection, self-compassion, and the reduction of stress and anxiety. The lecture will introduce Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), an evidence-based program developed by Prof. Jon Kabat-Zinn. MBSR spans over 8 weeks and incorporates meditation, yoga, and awareness practices to enhance conscious presence, ultimately fostering self-awareness and reducing stress. Additionally, Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), developed by American psychologists Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, will be discussed. MSC offers strategies for supporting oneself during challenging times, promoting self-compassion and kindness over shame and self-criticism.