Action for Happiness

Yesterday we saw something rather remarkable on two counts. Firstly, the publication of the very first official year-on-year comparisons of UK wellbeing, a landmark moment in this new era of measuring what matters. And secondly, we had the unexpected news that, as a nation, we've actually become happier and less anxious over the last 12 months. Not hugely happier, but a statistically significant step in the right direction nonetheless.

20 March 2013 is the very first United Nations International Day of Happiness. To celebrate the day, Action for Happiness is working in partnership a network of amazing, like-minded organisations who share our vision for a flourishing world. We're encouraging people all around the world to ACT and bring happiness to others.

A whole host of recent research reports have shown that children in the UK are some of the most pressurised and unhappy in the world. The Save Childhood Movement has been launched in response to the increasing level of concern about the erosion of childhood and the declining health and wellbeing of children in the UK.

Today sees the publication of the first annual subjective wellbeing data from the UK Office for National Statistics. For the first time, official data shows how people's perceived quality of life varies with key factors such as health, work situation, geographic region, relationships and ethnic group. Many commentators are focusing on the variations in wellbeing across these factors. However, the much more important finding from today's publication is that the variation in subjective well-being within any particular population grouping is generally much greater than the variation between such groupings.

A report published today by the London School of Economics reveals the horrific scale of mental illness in Britain – and how little the NHS does about it. Mental illness is now nearly a half of all ill health suffered by people under 65 – and it is more disabling than most chronic physical disease. Yet only a quarter of those involved are in any form of treatment.

On 2 April 2012, the first ever United Nations conference on happiness and wellbeing is taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York. It builds on a UN General Assembly resolution agreed in July 2011 encouraging countries to promote the happiness of their citizens. To mark the conference, a new World Happiness Report is being released, edited by John Helliwell, Jeffrey Sachs and Action for Happiness co-founder Richard Layard.

In recent decades our lives have become increasingly orientated in the service of the economy, rather than the other way around. Yet economic growth is really just a means to an end; it only matters if it contributes to social progress and human wellbeing. Mark Williamson explains why a happier society requires both requires both policy and social change and responds to the first results of the UK government’s initiative to measure our levels of wellbeing.

Mental health should be the sixth pillar of the welfare state says Lord Layard. Mental health lies at the root of so many of our social problems and yet it is shockingly neglected by our policy-makers. This will only change if there is a minister for mental health within the cabinet.

Today sees publication of new findings and updates from the Office for National Statistics work to measure UK national wellbeing. Welcoming today's report, Action for Happiness' director Mark Williamson said: "The publication of this latest wellbeing data is another very welcome step towards the UK measuring what really matters most - people's quality of life as they experience it"

Today's report from the Institute of Economic Affairs - which claims that it is wrong for governments to measure or attempt to improve people's wellbeing - is misleading and wrong. Although individuals have the greatest ability to affect their happiness, government nevertheless has a vital role in creating the conditions for people to lead happy lives.

Today our movement has gained a huge boost. The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, has written to the leaders of all countries calling for them to make people’s happiness and wellbeing the political priority for 2012. The letter specifically mentions and supports the work of Action for Happiness as a global movement for positive social change.

Today is a momentous day. The Office for National Statistics has published the very first official results from its new programme to measure our national wellbeing. This is a groundbreaking development and will hopefully provide the basis for a profound shift in government policy-making.

People are right to be indignant about the malfunctionings of our economic system. But this only helps if linked to some clear principle to guide our priorities. Action for Happiness believes the aim should be a society in which there is the most happiness and above all the least misery.

Jeffrey Sachs explains why the time has come to reconsider the basic sources of happiness in economic life, not just for a better distribution of income and wealth, but also for a better distribution of values, ethics, and goals. Economic progress is important and can greatly improve the quality of life, but only if it is pursued sensibly in line with other goals in the society.

A new study reports that a happy teen is less likely to be involved in criminal activities or use drugs. The researchers evaluated results from the largest, most comprehensive survey of adolescents ever undertaken.

A fundamental cultural change is underway in Britain: we are beginning to think that the purpose of life and of government might be the well-being of the people rather than the creation of wealth. Similar subversive ideas are growing in other rich countries, but they are more advanced in Britain than elsewhere.

In the aftermath of last night's riots in London and other UK cities people are shocked and angry. Happiness seems almost irrelevant. Yet if we stop to look at what might be the underlying drivers of this behaviour, many of these lead back to important issues at the heart of the happiness agenda.

Action for Happiness calls for government action to improve well-being not just measure it. As the government today confirms its plans to measure national well-being, Action for Happiness is calling on the government to start reshaping policy to increase well-being. It is urging much greater priority for mental health, life skills education and support for the most disadvantaged.

In September 2010, an eclectic group was brought together by Martin Seligman, founder of the Positive Psychology movement, to share thoughts on the subject of "flourishing". Attendees included headmasters, a doctor, a psychiatrist, a poet, an economist, a neuroscientist, authors, professors, students, philanthropists, game inventors and a movie producer. Lindsay Doran shares what she learnt.

Happiness is now on the agenda, and about time too. But is this just a trendy fad, or should there be a permanent change in the way we think about the purposes of politics?

After 2008, we entered a 'beyond-growth' economy, argues Jules Peck. Today, we need enterprises that aim to deliver wellbeing

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development is turning to private citizens, not economists or think tanks, to help it figure out how to measure happiness.

Martin Seligman lays out his vision for 51% of the world's population to be "flourishing" by 2051

People living in countries with governments that have a greater number of social services report being more satisfied with life, according to a study by a Baylor University researcher.

Low taxes, freedom of speech, equality... the government can provide or withhold many of the things that make life better. Now a new organisation called Action for Happiness wants to spread the message of how we can change the world for the better

The idea that happiness matters is very British in its modern origins. In the mid-18th century, the Scottish philosopher Frances Hutcheson was the first to describe the best society as the one that had "the greatest happiness of the greatest number". Similar ideas were held by his friends Adam Smith and David Hume. But the genius who carried the idea much further was Jeremy Bentham, the English lawyer who inspired so many of the legal and social reforms of the early 19th century. Later in the 19th century the idea was powerfully restated by John Stuart Mill.

The Children's Society today warns that the current economic situation is having a major impact on children's well-being. In the run-up to next week's budget, the leading children’s charity has released a new report, which found that a decrease in family income is directly related to lower well-being for children.

UK households are to be asked how satisfied they are with their lives in survey measuring happiness. The Office for National Statistics has published questions it is adding to an existing nationwide poll from April. People will be asked to rank from nought to 10 how "satisfied" they are, and how "anxious" they felt yesterday.

"Money doesn't buy happiness." It's an old adage that many of us like to quote but few of us really believe. However, now a new study by an economist dubbed the 'father of happiness studies' has found it to be true.

Recently, the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, asked two Nobel economists, Joseph Stiglitz and Amartya Sen, to come up with a way to measure well-being. Now David Cameron has asked the Office for National Statistics to do the same.

Speech by Lord Layard at the HM Treasury conference to mark launch of the ONS wellbeing consultation. "This is a wonderful day for the cause of happiness. For the first time in British history, well-being is accepted as a proper objective of government policy, and therefore worth measuring as accurately as possible"

Mark Williamson wrote this article for our friends at Do The Green Thing in support of their campaign for international Buy Nothing day. "Let’s stop aiming for lives filled with riches and focus instead on helping people lead richer lives".