Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being which is defined by positive or pleasant emotions, ranging from contentment to intense joy. Happiness has also been said to relate to life satisfaction, appreciation of life, moments of pleasure, but overall it has to do with the positive experience of emotions.
Research shows that happiness is not the result of bouncing from one joy to the next; achieving happiness typically involves times of considerable discomfort. Money is important to happiness, but only to a certain point. Money buys freedom from worry about the basics in life-housing, food, clothing as cited on The Guardian.
According to Lord Richard Layard that average people have become no happier in the last 50 years, despite average incomes are twice more than increasing. He stated that, tackling depression and anxiety would be four times as effective as tackling poverty. The report claims that state-run organizations, including schools, must become more focused on tackling anxiety and mental health issues as cited on BBC News.
The new evidence demands a new role for the state - not 'wealth creation' but 'wellbeing creation'. In the past, the state has successively taken on poverty, unemployment, education and physical health. But equally important now are domestic violence, alcoholism, depression and anxiety conditions, alienated youth, exam mania and much else.
He also stated that, it was a curse on children that they were judged by society solely on their educational attainment. The report added that the strongest factor predicting a happy adult life is not the children's qualifications but with their emotional health. There is also powerful evidence that schools have a big impact on children's emotional health, and which school a child goes to will affect their emotional wellbeing as much as it affects their exam performance.
Layard rejected some accusations that he was arguing against closing income inequalities but he said that improvements in mental health services would have a greater impact on our society.
