The mission of DLF is to reduce the epidemic of trauma and chronic toxic stress among at-risk populations everywhere. We are poised to accomplish our mission through a network of certified Transcendental Meditation® instructors around the world, and with a growing number of international program partners. Through their efforts, underserved populations – most especially children – are gaining tools that will help them survive and thrive, despite enormously stressful situations that could otherwise destroy their health and hope.
Depression, a symptom of chronic stress, is among the leading causes of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organizations. We have our work cut out for us.
TM: Ideally Suited for Remote and Impoverished Locations
- Because Transcendental Meditation is a simple, natural, effortless technique that can be easily learned, it can be integrated into existing treatment programs or used alone with great success
- Because TM is not a religion, philosophy, or lifestyle, it crosses all cultural borders. There is nothing to “believe in.” TM works because of the beneficial, clinically-proven physical changes it causes.
- Because TM is funded by generous partners, it is available to at-risk populations free of charge.
- Because local program participants can be trained and certified as TM teachers, program sustainability is assured.
- Because the benefits of TM can begin to be achieved on the first day or days of learning, participants are inspired to stay with it and success rates are high.
War has been ravaging villages across 18 African countries over the past 20 years. It is estimated that up to 100 million Africans are suffering traumatic stress from past or ongoing violence, sexual abuse, natural disasters, or from having witnessed horrific acts of terror.
African PTSD Relief
African PTSD Relief (APR) is a non-profit charitable corporation funded, in part, by donations to the David Lynch Foundation. Through this partnership, they offer TM instruction to survivors of devastating experiences. These programs enable entire populations to overcome tendencies toward anger, violence, suicidal impulses, and other possible effects of traumatic stress, and re-establish physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Help support DLF’s programs in Africa.
90%
of refugees with high levels of PTSD symptoms decreased to non-symptomatic levels within 30 days of learning the TM technique – Journal of Traumatic Stress
Poverty and the chronic stress it creates within families contributes greatly to a crisis facing Jamaica’s educational system. Students are adversely affected at school and suffer poor performance on academic and cognitive tests along with disciplinary problems, increased absenteeism and dropout rates, and lifelong effects, including reduced job success.
Help support DLF’s programs in Jamaica.
Research
Peer-reviewed studies demonstrate that the Transcendental Meditation technique has significant value in managing the dramatic problem of PTS within a relatively short period of time.
Clinically proven benefits for meditating school children include significant improvements in learning, comprehension, and behavior, as well as increased graduation rates, improved test scores, and reduced Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms.
The David Lynch Foundation and the Jamaica Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education is another example of how our partnerships work. Together, we are:
- Bringing the healing effects of the TM technique to schools, educational leaders, parents, and community organizations
- Enabling highly-challenged students from broken homes and stress-ridden homes and violent neighborhoods to cope successfully with stress
- Implementing a student and school development program to help solve Jamaica’s educational crisis
- Creating the first permanent Consciousness-Based Education program in Jamaica and the Caribbean, and establish a permanent peace-creating group for the Caribbean Nations
“Meditation has helped me a lot because I had a temper and I couldn’t control it. I would just cry and not know what’s wrong with me. Now, I’m fine because TM gives me peace. Now I’m a happy girl who has a smile on her face!”
Student at Khetokhulke African school
