The Bright Times

Hardly a day passes without some new health scare in the media. Most people appreciate being informed about their health, but we can feel overwhelmed at the amount of information we’re being given, some of it contradictory. A great deal of research has been done, and a great deal of money spent on treating people who are sick, but relatively little has been spent on how to keep people healthy and happy.

Recently the economist, Lord Layard, has been advising the government on how to reduce the number of working days lost in this country owing to mental illness. He feels that much more should be done to promote happiness rather than constantly focusing on illness. Being happy and contented with life is as important, if not more important, than being healthy, although obviously the two are often linked. Research has tried to identify the characteristics of happy people.

Happy people live longer, reach their potential, can make decisions that promote their happiness, are excellent friends and are loyal to their family and colleagues. It is also known that happiness is not dependent on wealth, occupation, where people live, religion, physical fitness or nationality.

Happy people have a positive approach to life, and they also have good mental health. So what is mental health and how does it affect who we are? It is fundamental to our overall health status and essential for happiness and quality of life. Positive mental health is a resource that we draw on daily. It gives us our identity and our identity brings meaning to our lives. It enables us to value and relate to others. It helps us to achieve our goals and manage our lives successfully. It helps us to decide what is in our best interests, and guides us in deciding what we are capable of and what our limitations are. Good mental health is necessary for the effective functioning of individuals, families, communities and society. It is determined by biological, psychological, social and environmental factors which interact in complex ways. Numerous other factors are also involved such as our upbringing, home conditions, education, income, social support and personal competencies. Increasingly we are learning more about the types of lifestyle, environment, workplace and interests that promote mental wellbeing and happiness. Even though certain aspects of who we are are determined by factors outside our control such as genetics, parenting and home environment, the good news is that there is a great deal that is definitely under our control, enabling us to take charge of our lives. . There are three levels that have been identified as important in creating and maintaining positive mental health:

First is at the individual level and includes having a positive sense of self, being able to deal with problems in a reasoned way, being attached to family, having well developed social skills and taking steps to stay physically healthy.

Second is at the social level and this involves having a positive experience of being loved from an early age by supportive parents or parent figures, having good communication skills, valuing friendship and being involved in the local community.

Third level is frequently referred to as the ‘structural level’ and this is about feeling safe and secure economically, being in satisfying employment, having a good education and knowing how to access social and health services when required. Also at this level is finding meaning and purpose in life through a sense of the spiritual. This doesn’t necessarily mean being religious; it’s more about seeing life as a gift rather than a chore.

Of course knowing how to live ‘the good life’ doesn’t mean that people can put it into practice all the time. And some people have more going for them than others. However, there are probably things we can all do to improve our mental health and wellbeing. Enjoying life is very much about doing everything in moderation and avoiding excesses. Valuing oneself, respecting the companionship of others, trying to learn more about the world and oneself are sure ways of promoting mental health. People with good mental health are great to be with. They are optimistic, rarely bored and can motivate themselves. Being happy is not only a state of mind, it is a direction of travel. We could aim to do one thing every day to improve our own mental health and one thing to improve the mental health of others. This will probably only require a small degree of effort, but the return on the investment is likely to surpass anything that banks can offer.

Peter Nolan is Professor of Mental Health Care at Staffordshire University