The science of happiness: achieving sustained psychological wellbeing

WHILE a vast body of research has been dedicated to understanding problems and disorders of mental health, until the recent emergence of a new field of science, little was known about the positive aspects of life – the things that make life worth living. Positive psychology endeavours to understand how individuals and societies thrive and flourish, and how this new knowledge can be applied to foster happiness, health and fulfilment. Here, David Bartram and Ilona Boniwell discuss strategies for enhancing individual wellbeing, which it is hoped will temper some of the challenges and pressures facing veterinary professionals in their daily lives.