News & Investigative Articles on Vipassana Retreat Risks

The FT podcast Untold: The Retreat investigates the Goenka Vipassana meditation network, exploring how some participants experience life-changing, and sometimes disturbing, effects after the intensive retreats.

This article tells the story of Megan, who experiences a severe psychotic breakdown after attending a meditation retreat, and her family's search for answers.

This is an article detailing the findings of the Untold: The Retreat podcasts produced by the Financial Times.

While meditation is often praised for its mental and emotional benefits, intensive practices can trigger serious adverse effects including panic, depression, or psychotic episodes in some individuals. Proper guidance, gradual practice, and personal readiness are essential, as meditation is not universally safe or suitable.

An opinion piece arguing that mindfulness has been oversold as a universal remedy. The authors question the strength of the scientific evidence, highlight uncertainty about how it works, and draw attention to potential adverse psychological effects that are rarely discussed.

The article recounts the story of 25-year-old Megan Vogt, whose life unraveled after attending a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat in the tradition of S. N. Goenka.

This article reports on intensive Vipassana meditation retreats run by the Goenka network, popular with high-profile participants but not without risks. While many benefit, some attendees have suffered severe mental health effects, including psychosis and, in tragic cases, suicide. Experts and families emphasise the importance of careful screening, support, and awareness that these retreats are not suitable for everyone.

The article highlights the mental health risks of Vipassana meditation retreats, where participants meditate for up to 11 hours daily in silence.
Three individuals—Jaqui McDermott, Megan Vogt, and Ian Thorson—died after attending such retreats, with suicides linked to severe psychological reactions.
Experts warn that for some people, intense meditation can trigger anxiety, psychosis, and trauma, especially when isolated for long periods. Critics argue that the retreats lack sufficient mental health support, and the risks are often overlooked in the growing mindfulness movement.

A personal account of attending intensive vipassana retreats following a marital breakdown, exploring both the reported benefits and the emergence of anxiety, suicidal thoughts and self-criticism. The article examines research on adverse effects of meditation and questions how well retreat settings are equipped to support participants with mental health vulnerabilities.