Psych105 1.2
Classification
In-Confidence
Science and Practice of Wellbeing
Professor Julia Rucklidge
Related Video: Xavier Rudd - Follow The Sun (YouTube)
Child Disorders in New Zealand (NZ Health Survey 2021)
Increase in Mental Health Issues From 2010/11 to 2021:
ADHD: Increased by 73%
Autism: Increased by 39%
Anxiety: Increased by 76%
Elevated Psychological Distress Among University Students
Youth19 Report (2021): Rising numbers of students with mental health issues.
NZ Health Survey 2022:
Around 1/4 of youth reporting high to very high psychological distress.
Optimistic Treatment Gap
Practicing Psychologists (2024):
Around 3,880 practicing psychologists (out of 4,838 registered; half are clinical psychologists).
Treatment gap persists despite the number of professionals available.
Proposed Solutions for Mental Health
Current proposal: Double the number of health professionals.
Still inadequate by 2040.
Take Home Message
There is an epidemic of mental health problems.
Increasing identification of these issues.
Conventional treatments are ineffective for many; rates of mental health problems are increasing.
He Ara Oranga Report (2018)
Emphasizes that medication and treatment alone are insufficient to tackle the mental distress epidemic.
Current Western Approach to Mental Health (Prof. Martin Seligman)
Critique that current psychology measures only mitigate suffering, without fostering positive growth.
Skills of Flourishing:
Emphasizing positive emotions, meaning, good relationships, and fulfilling work as critical to well-being.
Investment in Mental Health Services
There are many careers reliant on mental health distress which generally lead to increased funding.
Example: $2.6 billion allocated for mental health and addiction services in 2024.
Costs of Western Disease Model (Seligman, TED, 2004)
Mental health professionals often become victimologists.
Shift in focus needed toward enhancing normal lives and promoting happiness.
Emphasis on positive interventions rather than just alleviating misery.
Statistics highlighting a focus shift towards negative states in research.
Embracing Healing Capacities
Stages of Wound Healing:
Hemostasis: Blood clot.
Inflammation.
Proliferation.
Tissue remodeling.
Wellness and Flourishing
Difference between positive psychology and clinical psychology:
Well-being literature emphasizes living well, while traditional services focus on illness alleviation.
Psychological Models of Wellbeing
Seligman’s PERMA Model (2011):
Positive Emotions: Frequency of joyful feelings.
Engagement: Sense of “flow” in activities.
Relationships: Support and love in one’s life.
Meaning: Value in pursuits and actions.
Accomplishment: Goal achievement and progression.
Subjective Wellbeing (SWB)
Characteristics of individuals with high SWB:
Increased success, social engagement, stable relationships, creativity, better physical health, stronger immune systems, and longevity.
Types of Happiness
Eudaimonic Happiness: Focused on holistic fulfillment.
Hedonic Happiness: Focused on immediate pleasure.
Definition of Wellbeing (Huppert, 2009)
Combination of feeling good and functioning effectively:
Positive emotions and overall life effectiveness.
Influences on Happiness
Investigating common misconceptions about what makes us happy:
Money, possessions, love, grades.
Impact of Income on Happiness
Findings:
Higher income correlates with life satisfaction, but emotional wellbeing plateaus around $75,000.
Materialism and Happiness
A study concluded that materialistic aspirations led to decreased life satisfaction over two decades.
Relationships and Happiness
Love influences happiness only temporarily, returning to baseline after some time.
Grades and Happiness
Expectations do not always match outcomes; lower-than-expected grades can affect happiness levels negatively.
Summary
Predicted versus actual happiness in response to financial and material pursuits, love, and academic performance leads to "miswanting," or the misunderstanding of what truly increases happiness.