The World Happiness Report focuses on the happiness of people at different stages of life. In most countries, life satisfaction drops gradually from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood, supporting the well-being of an aging global population is one of the keys to a good quality of life. Both social support and loneliness also affect happiness, with social support usually having a larger effect. According to Jennifer De Paola, a happiness researcher at the University of Helsinki in Finland, Finns’ close connection to nature and healthy work-life balance were key contributors to their life satisfaction, combined with a strong welfare society, trust in state authorities, low levels of corruption and free healthcare and education.

The report’s research suggests that policies designed to increase well-being may lower dementia risk, resulting in a happier and healthier older adult population. Policies that enable equitable access to well-being and health-enhancing activities may be especially beneficial, such as those that increase equitable access to education, safe public spaces for physical and social activity, health screenings, and affordable and effective health care.

The NDPHS ongoing projects Mental Health Matters, Arts On Prescription, Solutions for Age-Friendly Employer (SAFE), and advocacy of the Economy of Wellbeing concept, carried out under the PA Health coordination for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region are actively enhancing the wellbeing of people in our partner countries. All these initiatives are making their small contribution to making the region one of the happiest in the World.

Happy International Day of Happiness!

Read more: https://worldhappiness.report/

The World Happiness Report is a partnership of Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Text: NDPHS Secretariat