The UK appears to be in the grip of a mental health emergency, one which is having a profound impact on the lives of young people as well as on the old. This is despite the fact that in terms of our living standards we are wealthier now, relatively speaking, than we were 100 years ago.
In an effort to alleviate our symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression, many of us are turning to anti-anxiety medication. A staggering 70.9 million prescriptions for antidepressants were dispensed in England in 2018. That’s almost double the 36m prescriptions issued in 2008.
So, it’s wonderful to be able to write about a simple intervention which is having a positive effect on the moods of the people who interact with it. A recent evaluation of the Exploring What Matters course by a group of academics shows that the programme is effective at reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety by 50% and 42% respectively.
What’s even more exciting is the wellbeing boost this eight-week course, which costs around £20, brings to the attendees. They said that by adopting a few simple practices everyday, their quality of life rose by 15%. This is higher than the psychological hit derived from starting a dream job or finding a new life partner, the academics said.
For centuries, the received wisdom has been that happiness is an exalted state which only the virtuous are lucky enough to enjoy, to badly paraphrase Plato. What this course, which is rooted in scientific evidence, does is dispel the myths surrounding happiness. It shows that although there is no magic pill, there is a science to happiness. There are concrete steps that everyone can take to improve their emotional and mental wellbeing.
By understanding what is important to us in order for us to live a happy and meaningful life and by engaging in the activities that help other people feel good about themselves, we can boost our happiness and feel more connected to the people around us. Simply knowing this changes the game.
