wellness
Medellín Schools Launch Mindfulness Programs to Combat Student Anxiety
Medellín schools have added structured mindfulness sessions for students this year to address rising reports of anxiety in classrooms.
How we reported this
Medellín’s Secretaría de Educación added mindfulness blocks to the daily schedule in 25 primary schools starting in March 2026.
City health data released in June showed a 22 percent increase in anxiety-related visits among children aged 8 to 12 since 2023. Officials say the new sessions aim to give students tools before those numbers climb further.
Programs now running in Laureles and Belén
Institución Educativa Jesús María on Calle 44 in Laureles runs a 12-minute guided practice each morning at 7:45. Teachers trained through the city’s 2025 instructor course lead the sessions in every third- and fourth-grade classroom. In Belén, Colegio San José de la Salle on Carrera 75 introduced a similar routine last semester that includes breathing exercises and a short body scan before math lessons begin.
Both schools use a curriculum developed with the Medellín-based Centro de Bienestar Integral, which supplies audio recordings in Spanish and provides monthly check-ins with classroom teachers. The program at Jesús María costs the school 180,000 Colombian pesos per class for the full semester, while San José covers its sessions through a municipal grant that began in January.
Evidence and next steps for families
A March 2026 survey by the Secretaría de Salud sampled 1,800 students across the 25 participating schools and recorded an average 28 percent drop in self-reported stress scores after eight weeks. Attendance records show 94 percent of enrolled students completed the full cycle.
Families who want their children included can speak with the school coordinator or visit the Secretaría de Educación office at Calle 44 No. 52-165 before the August enrollment window closes. The next round of teacher training sessions begins on 15 September at the same address.