Happiness and Well-Being Picks

It seems that happiness and well-being have become the unlikely buzzwords of this recession as commentators try to signpost the way back to recovery while avoiding previous pitfalls. This is a very positive development for those of us interested in encouraging open and positive discussion of mental health in our everyday lives.

The following picks are just some of many brilliant voices toting the benefits of prioritizing mental health and well-being as part of policy and as part of our lifestyle.

Can our collective happiness be harnessed to bolster GDP? According Dr. Jacky Jones writing in the Irish times, while nobody can be happy all of the time, the real value in using ‘subjective wellbeing’ as a social measurement is the recognition that unhappy feelings need to be dealt with in a healthy and assertive way, through talking about them openly and honestly. Music to our ears!http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2011/0920/1224304402892.html

The tricky balancing act between work and well, ‘life’ featured in the Irish Times last Tuesday as one of the hidden causalities of the recession. Thankfully, AOL is just one of the companies who have stepped in to address this imbalance with their “Get monster Fit” – a program of fitness and wellbeing, stress management seminars and sleep counselling that has grown to almost complete participation by staff members. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2011/0920/1224304402483.html

Happiness is what you make it! Action for Happiness is a movement of people committed to building a happier society, where progress is not strictly defined by economics. Their key message is that 40% of our happiness comes from our daily activities and the conscious choices we make. See http://www.actionforhappiness.org/ to read their ’10 keys to happier living.’

If anything from the world of mental health catches your eye and you would like to share it, feel free to email nmongey@seechange.ie, and we can include it on our posts for the week.

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