IN a March 2019 World Happiness Report, Filipinos ranked significantly higher compared to our Southeast Asian counterparts. The Philippines ranked 69th, Malaysia 80th, Indonesia 92nd, Vietnam 94th, Lao PDR 105th, Cambodia 109th and Myanmar 131st. The significant increase of Filipinos’ happiness and life satisfaction scores in March 2019 compared to December 2018 (with an unhappiness score of 13 percent, the highest since the 15 percent in December 2014) could be attributed to three factors—resilience, hopefulness and being supportive and, likewise, a supposed lack of sense of privilege compared to other countries (“Happiness surveys and rankings xxx”, Jeline Malasig, July 3, 2019).
Our Happiness Index does not seem to be consistent with the rise in suicide rates in the country. In the Philippines, around 3.8 deaths relating to suicide were recorded per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015, 1.9 for females, 5.8 for males (Global Burden of Disease Study, cnnphilippines.com). Data from the same study in 2016 sheds light upon our mental health problems. We have close to 9 million prevalent cases of mental, neurological and substance use disorders, 3.3 million of which are anxiety disorders and 2.6 million of which are depression. The main causes of depression are abuse (past physical, sexual or emotional abuse can increase the vulnerability to clinical depression later in life); certain medications; conflict; death; or a loss genetics; major events; personal problems; serious illness (www.webmd.com.guide, March 18, 2019).
Globally, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression. Depression is a common illness worldwide. It is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life. Close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the second- leading cause of death in 15-29 year-olds. A World Health Assembly resolution passed in May 2013 has called for a comprehensive, coordinated response to mental disorders at the country level (www.who.int,3) January 20, 2020.
Responding to this challenge is the Delhi government, which launched a “Happiness Curriculum” in 2018. The Happiness Curriculum aims at promoting development of cognition, language, literacy, numeracy and the arts. This, in turn, aids the mental growth, well-being and happiness of students. It further states that future citizens need to be “mindful, awake, awakened, emphatic, and firmly rooted in their identity” based on the premise that education has a larger purpose, which cannot be in insolation from the “dire needs” of today’s society (m.jagranjosh.com). An expert has skills are never taught in educational institutions. “As our world becomes more VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) our future generations need to be more emphatic, and analytical than ever before. But they cannot face the world if they do not have a strong foundation made up of emotional strength and happiness. The Happiness Curriculum is already paving ways for the world to emulate and make our future generations stronger for a better future” (Saurabh Nanda, career consultant, founder-The Happiness Project).
Delhi’s Happiness Curriculum has daily classes of 45 minutes, six days a week. Students between Nursery and 8th class are required to attend. It’s aim is to: 1) Develop Self Awareness and Mindfulness among the students; 2) Inculcate Critical Thinking and Inquiry Skills; 3) Imbibe Effective Communication Skills; 4) Enable students to apply these skills for problem-solving in conflicting situations; 5) Reduce anxiety, depression and intolerance among school students.
With the alarming spike in suicide cases in this country, our educators should revisit our K-12 Curriculum and seriously consider a Happiness Curriculum during the formative years of our children. This might not solve the suicide problem, but it is a good first step.