The Science Of Creating Happiness

College Challenges

Laurie Santos, a Yale professor, highlights the alarming mental health crisis among college students, with over 40% feeling too depressed to function and more than 60% experiencing overwhelming anxiety. She shares her firsthand experiences living on campus and witnessing these struggles, which led her to create the popular course "Psychology and the Good Life" to address these issues with evidence-based interventions 1. Santos notes that the pandemic has shifted social interactions, allowing people to appreciate simple joys and experiences they previously took for granted 2.

Right now, nationally, there's over 40% of college students who report being too depressed to function most days.

--- Laurie Santos

This newfound appreciation could lead to a more joyful post-pandemic world, as people savor the small things they once overlooked.

   

Cultural Pressures

Cultural pressures significantly impact mental health, particularly among young people. Laurie Santos discusses how societal norms often steer individuals away from happiness, emphasizing the importance of adopting habits that foster well-being 3. She suggests that practical actions, like acts of service, can enhance happiness and well-being, especially during challenging times 4.

I think we've gotten away from all these ancient traditions that got it right and are in a structure of capitalism that's systematically pointing us towards things that are not going to make us happy.

--- Laurie Santos

Santos encourages using available resources, whether time or money, to help others, which can be more fulfilling than material pursuits.