Teaching positive psychology skills at school may foster good mental health and happiness

Youth mental health has worsened significantly over the past decade, but new interventions that teach positive psychology concepts in school may help.

Young people in the United States are reporting historically high levels of hopelessness, sadness and loneliness. According to the most recent data from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 20 per cent of adolescents have seriously considered suicide – and suicide is the second-leading cause of death for children aged 10 to 14.

Perhaps even more alarming than the prevalence of youth mental health problems is the inaccessibility of mental health support for the many children who need it. About 60 per cent of depressed adolescents do not receive any treatment – and around 950,000 children do not have health insurance that covers mental health services.

One solution is to provide mental healthcare in schools. This is already happening. School counsellors, psychologists and social workers provide support, teach coping strategies and work with caregivers to help students overcome mental health challenges. Such vital care is essential, but clearly more help is needed.

Research shows that students who have a positive outlook regarding their lives outperform other students academically and emotionally. You might wonder, can positive thinking be taught?

I study school-based positive psychology interventions. My colleagues have found that students who’ve been introduced to science-based ideas about happiness feel more satisfied with life, experience more positive than negative emotions, and have fewer emotional and behavioural problems.

Science of happiness

Psychologists began to study the science of happiness in the late 1990s. Prior to that, most psychology researchers studied misery.

Psychologist Martin Seligman was such a scientist, having pioneered the concept of “learned helplessness”. But a conversation with his young daughter, in which she demanded to know why he couldn’t “stop being such a grouch”, inspired him to start studying what makes people happy instead.

Initial studies were conceptual in nature. But before long, researchers started to identify what makes people happy, the benefits of happiness, and interventions to improve happiness.

Scientists identified three main predictors of happiness – genetics, life circumstances and purposeful activities – and potentially others, depending on one’s culture. Of the big three, the first two are often out of an individual’s control. But science has shown that people can adopt strategies to feel happier.

Achieving a state of flourishing – or feeling good and doing good – is the goal of positive psychology interventions. It can evoke positive feelings, increase engagement with life, strengthen positive relationships, move people towards purpose and help people achieve meaningful goals.

Positive psychology in schools

Positive psychology is now taught in some schools around the world, including in Australia, China, Denmark, Israel, New Zealand, South Africa and the US. Most interventions educate students about mindfulness and positive psychology concepts such as gratitude, kindness, optimistic thinking, utilising character strengths and hope. The idea is not just to teach students about positive psychology as a school subject but to also enable them to practise the skills that research suggests will help them flourish.

In typical programmes, students first learn positive psychology concepts, then practise using them in real life with the help of trusted adults. For example, students discuss what gratitude means to them, then practise writing down three things they are thankful for every night before bed with the help of their caregivers. After a week, students discuss with adults at school how practising gratitude affected their level of happiness.

A 2020 review of 57 school-based positive psychology programmes showed that more than half resulted in positive outcomes, including less stress, lower depression, less anxiety, fewer behavioural issues, better self-image, higher life satisfaction and stronger social functioning.

‘Nice inside’

One intervention now being studied by the US Department of Education is a 10-week, small-group intervention aimed at helping middle schoolers. I coach the mental health providers implementing this programme.

Like other programmes of its kind, it teaches youth about positive concepts, including gratitude, kindness, character strengths, optimism and hope. Early findings, presented at the 2023 National Association of School Psychologists conference, show the programme is well received both by students and providers.

We have found students tend to favour activities that fit with their culture or values. For example, one student said that performing acts of kindness was his favourite programme-based activity, because it helped him spend more time with family and pets – the two most important things in his life. Another student said that being able to share the strategies with his mother helped the two of them to feel happier. This student was also proud to be able to help his family.

We also found that some students believed the programme helped them build positive relationships with others. One of them said: “It’s really fun to see how others react when I’m being nice, such as giving a compliment.” They also said it helped them feel “nice inside”. Another student agreed, saying making others feel good helped him feel happier.

Positive psychology training is only one piece of the solution for improving youth mental health. Children with severe issues need comprehensive treatment, which can include mental health counselling and medication.

Even though many important factors are out of a person’s control, everyone has room for growth in happiness. My colleagues and I hope teaching positive psychology in schools will become a common practice in the future.