INFORMATION RESOURCES ON MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
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Well-being
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Definitions and measurement issues
The Whitehall Well-being Working Group have produced a report summarizing the results of the Sustainable Development Unit investigation into the use of well-being concepts in policy making and appraisal.
The report is based on a series of interviews with Whitehall departments, the Environment Agency and the Audit Commission, and topics covered include:
- Use of well-being concepts in policy: current approach and rationale; strengths and weaknesses of current approaches; and benefits and barriers for use of well-being concepts in the future
- Measuring well-being (current and planned)
- Research (current and planned)
In general, it was found that the term well-being is widely used but not specifically defined. Summary details of findings are given in the report.
New Economics Foundation (NEF) Well-being Programme
NEF's well-being programme seeks to understand, measure and influence well-being. In particular they ask the question what would policy making and the economy look like if their main aim were to promote well-being.
NEF have undertaken work on conceptualising and measuring well-being, and in particular looking at understanding people's life philosophies, and tracking the relationship between these and their well-being. Research into the relationship between well-being and the environment is also being conducted. NEF advocate a two-dimensional model which looks at both life satisfaction and personal development.
NEF have developed new measures of well-being, and have worked with local government to test these. They are also working towards creating better measures of national well-being. Their Measure of Domestic Progress adjusts GDP for social, environmental and economic effects, and a national indicator of subjective well-being is planned.
NEF worked with Nottingham City Council to measure the well-being of young people in the city. Overall, the pilot study shows that measuring well-being is a powerful way in which local government can use its 'well-being powers' to join up different local services and gain important insights into the ultimate impacts of policy.
Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Later Life: a first report of the UK Inquiry into Mental Health and Well-Being in Later Life
This report presents the findings and recommendations from Stage 1 of the Inquiry's work, which has focused on mental health promotion in later life. It draws on the views of nearly 900 older people and carers.
The report identifies five key factors that impact on the mental health and well-being of older people:
- Discrimination
- Participation
- Relationships
- Physical Health
- Poverty
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