Research

The mindfulness practices, such as meditation, walking meditation and yoga, shared by IOI volunteers are science-based and secular. The incarcerated, returning citizens, people transitioning from homelessness experience a high rate of trauma¹, addiction², and related health disorders, but at the same time,  have limited access to medical services. 

Mindfulness skills³ help people focus their attention on their experience in the present moment in an accepting way rather than dwelling on the past or future. Extensive research⁴ suggests that mindfulness-based interventions are an effective clinical treatment for anxiety, depression, and stress⁵.  The mindfulness-based interventions offered by IOI volunteers have been shown to be effective⁶ in prisons for mitigating trauma, mental health disorders and substance abuse. Mindfulness interventions for the incarcerated have also been found to reduce recidivism⁷.

Mindfulness-based interventions can be provided at a relatively low cost compared to other treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and so can be suitable⁸ for non-medical institutions such as prisons and residences for people transitioning from homelessness.