DIRECTOR OF STUDENTS REPORT

Measuring Wellbeing

The importance of wellbeing in our daily life is something we are all becoming more familiar with recent times. Focussing on wellbeing not only assists in making life better for all people including those with a mental illness, it also predicts increased longevity and healthy ageing. The study of wellbeing began in the 1950’s with the work of Maslow, Rogers, Fromm and Erickson. Most of their research was directed at self-actualisation and the maximising of potential.

In a modern context we refer to this as flourishing. In recent years there has been a big push towards the use of positive psychology in education where schools are focussing on flourishing as an overall measure of wellbeing, actualisation and performance. The media regularly focuses on the statistical rise in mental illness among young people and this is rightly seen as a looming health crisis. Focussing on wellbeing in schools shifts the focus of mental health from a reactive position to a place where the wellbeing of the individual and the whole community is an active process aimed at ensuring the individual and the community flourish.

The science of wellbeing is in its early stages but research on how the brain is impacted and changed through mindful meditation, goal setting, reflection and social and emotional learning is the focus of many clinical studies and trials. A great example of one such study is documented in a recent film by journalist and filmmaker Shannon Harvey. In ‘My Year Of Living Mindfully’ Harvey seeks to prove if the structure and composition of the brain is changed or altered as a result of mindful meditation. I will not spoil the film by divulging any more details...

https://www.myyearoflivingmindfully.com/onlinepremiere

The film raises a good question: How do you measure wellbeing?

A recent article in Issue 1 of Independent Education magazine featured an article by Zephyr Bloch-Jorgensen that outlines an app he and his team have developed to measure wellbeing (www.mapwellbeing.com/). Working closely with Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) Bloch-Jorgensen has developed a series of questions that can measure personal and workplace wellbeing. Based on the user's response, Bloch-Jorgensen’s software creates a score for each of the five interconnected domains: self, relationships, family, community and work as well as an overall meta-score. As an online survey it makes it easy to measure how you are performing in each of your domains anywhere, anytime. I have now completed two MAP wellbeing questionnaires with four months between each. The feedback received from both surveys has assisted me to improve my centredness, self and community wellbeing by following the recommendations suggested by Bloch-Jorgensen’s MAP wellbeing website. The questions asked in the survey are excellent for reflecting on relationships, values, opinions and goal setting; at the very least this is a good place to start when addressing personal wellbeing.

Ross Kennedy | Acting Director of Students