Strong mind, strong body: The promise of mind–body interventions to address growing mental health needs among youth

As the prevalence of childhood and adolescent anxiety, depression, other mental health concerns continues to rise, there has been an unprecedented increase in support mind–body practices like yoga, dance, meditation, mindfulness, aerobic exercise, more—in part driven by burden imposed COVID-19 pandemic. While a growing body evidence supports safety effectiveness approaches, gaps funding for empirical research on mechanistic underpinnings, methodology development assess multicomponent therapeutic practices, dissemination implementation, diversity researchers, practitioners, recipients remain. consequence, neurobiological impacts techniques are not well understood nor broadly accepted as standard forms care clinicians insurers—often being considered “alternative” rather than “complementary” or “integrative.” In this commentary, we summarize work from our labs others highlighting promise approaches improving youth, line with National Institute Mental Health's strategic plan address disparities. We offer potential framework implementation research—the Expressive Therapies Continuum. also propose solutions key policy gaps, that could have positive public those who struggling prevent emergence psychiatric illness, especially developing youth.