Dear Friends,
Several years ago, I just read books on happiness for my own personal pleasure. Little did I know that I would soon be looking at them through a different lens. When my own child started to show signs of stress and then depression, I ached for a way to help. As the situation became more intense in school and at home, I didn’t know what to do, and it rocked me to the core.
In trying to find out more, I discovered how many young people are struggling with similar issues. After speaking with experts. I was shocked to learn of the escalating rates of stress, depression, bullying and even suicides occurring nationwide. This is truly a silent epidemic that is infiltrating the lives of young people everywhere.
- 3.22 million kids, ages 7-17 were treated for depression in the past 5 years. This is more than double the number from the previous 5 years. #1
- In American schools: 160,000 + children miss school every day, due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students. #2
- The American Psychological Association reports that “as many as 9% of children will experience a major depressive episode by the age of 14, and 20% will experience a major depressive episode before graduating from high school”. #3
- In a survey of high school students, the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center found that almost 1 in 5 teens had thought about suicide, about 1 in 6 teens had made plans for suicide, and more than 1 in 12 teens had attempted suicide in the last year. #4
In a culture that often values materialism over meaning, it is our kids who are being shortchanged.
I wanted to do something to raise awareness that there is another way. One thing that I now know is that we can no longer depend on someone else to give us the answers to our own happiness. The most authentic answers lie within – we have just forgotten how to access them. Each person has the capacity to retrain their brain to know that, with some practice, happiness is within reach. In this climate of ever-increasing stress, this message is more important than ever.
Project Happiness was born in silence, when the idea emerged to make a film with kids from 3 countries on a quest to find the secret of lasting happiness. Through the Project, time and time again, I learned that by listening to one’s inner voice and practicing gratitude, ideas that begin with a whisper can take on a life of their own. I deeply appreciate the generosity and warm-heartedness of George Lucas, Richard Gere, neuroscientist Richard Davidson, and the XIV Dalai Lama who all agreed to be interviewed by the kids.
Inspired by the film, I co-wrote the Project Happiness Handbook. With the idea of helping young people take charge of their own happiness, it combines the voices of the students with the top thought leaders in positive psychology and neuroscience. This became the basis for the work of the non-profit, Project Happiness, whose mission is to transform lives by providing world-class materials that empower people to generate their own lasting happiness, starting from within.
The curriculum is in many schools around the world, and the idea is catching on. Professor Richard Layard, of the London School of Economics says, “We will see a radical change in education in the next 20 years, as schools become as concerned with the development of character and the inner self as with academic testing and performance.”
The science of happiness, along with social and emotional learning is key, and I would notch it up even more. It’s time to democratize happiness. This is not only something as important to learn as math and history. It’s something that we can delve into ourselves, especially if we want to be alive to all the possibilities that life can hold. Project Happiness does not just talk about the problems. We implement solutions.
Yet, the word happiness brings out different responses in people. Some look at it as unrealistic or as a selfish pursuit. It is the opposite. By activating our happiness and making that available to our children, we proactively bring out the best in ourselves and those around us. Research has shown that happy people tend to be healthier, more resilient, more productive and more caring. It’s one of the quickest ways to change any challenging situation we find ourselves in and create a positive influence for those around us. I know firsthand how effective these practices can be.
Once you have seen the film trailer please take a look at the materials on the website, so you can start to create changes in your home, classroom and community. Let us choose together to raise awareness and adopt even one basic happiness practice. Gratitude, forgiveness, and simple kindness (as examples) are powerful beyond measure. Because happiness is contagious, the effects ripple out more than one may know.
By looking at what’s important and making little changes, greater happiness is absolutely within reach. Young people everywhere, as well as their parents and communities, deserve to experience their full potential – let’s work together to help make that happen.
Randy TaranFootnotes
#1 Brent, D. (2005). Is the medication bottle for pediatric and adolescent depression half-full or half-empty? Journal of Adolescent Health, 37(6), 431-433.
#2 http://www.bullying.com.au/school-bullying
#3 American Psychological Association, School-Based Program Teaches Skills That Stave Off Depression, October, 2003.
#4 http://www.teendepression.org/related/teen-suicide-statistics/