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2 HEALTH THE HINDU METROPLUS

CHENNAI

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019

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The year of
Q&A

I feel my 12­year­old is facing stress in school,
as he seems low when he returns, but I’m not

HAPPINESS
sure what. Is it better to talk to him first or
speak to the teacher?
■ Please take time to speak and more importantly listen to
your son. As he is approaching the teen years, several fac­
tors, including hormonal fluctuations, toxic lifestyle with
excessive gadget usage and less outdoor play, challenges in
Schools and universities have decided to Can 
academics  and  peer  interaction  can  contribute  to  what
happiness be
teach it as a subject, to help grow mental taught? It is
you are observing. In addition to the two­way communica­
tion,  please  also  make  sure  that  his  lifestyle,  including
and emotional health being included as
diet,  exercise,  opportunities  to  connect  with  his  peer
part of social-
emotional group and sleep, is balanced. You could connect with the
:: Sunalini Mathew through  cheese,  chocolate, curriculum for teacher once you have understood the real needs.
make­up, and clothes. students up to
Happiness  is  different  things  to Now, we’re investing in learn­
We are shifting cities, and my daughter is in
Class IX GETTY *

different people, says the song by ing  about  happiness  through IMAGES/ISTOCK Class XI. She is very unhappy about moving,

Ray Conniff from 1966. Over the courses.  “Isn’t  it  ironic?”  I  ask and expresses this with non­cooperation in
last year though, our post­medi­ psychologist  Prashant  Bhimani, ty. The movement has been led purpose as an umbrella to all the a personal  assessment  tool)  in most things, like packing and helping around
tation,  post­mindfulness  world echoing  Alanis  Morissette.  He by  psychologists  who  are  in­ programmes  they  construct  for Sidhwan Khurd, Punjab’s CT Un­
has been captivated by the pur­ says  it’s  a  need.  “We  live  in  a creasingly  looking  at  positive organisations. Prashant Agarwal, iversity  that  runs  a  Centre  of the house. How do I deal with the situation?
suit of happiness, as if it is a goal country  where  every  third  per­ psychology  (a  relatively  new an  engagement  manager  with Happiness  and  Wellbeing,  says ■ Adolescence is a time when peer interaction, deriving a
to chase. son  suffers  from  stress,  anxiety branch  in  the  field)  as  a  way  to the  company,  says  they  have the  chief  complaints  from  stu­ sense of belonging through cliques and developing a un­
and  depression.  Our  quantity prevent the terrible consequenc­ built  over  the  last  year,  what  is dents  and  faculty  is  peer  pres­ ique identity away from family, are essential. Shifting cities
Happiness is... and  quality  of  sleep  is  poor, es  of  mental  ill­health  like  sui­ called  a  social­emotional  curri­ sure,  undue  comparisons,  and naturally challenges all these areas and is very stressful for
We’ve  written  papers  about  it, we’re  not  communicating  very cide. “Happiness and well­being culum for students from Classes pressure.  He  says  the  lab,  that the adolescent brain that already struggles with emotional
such as ‘The concept of measur­ well with each other, technology are often used interchangeably,” III to IX. “It’s based on the core began  activity  in  January  this regulation. Please take time to connect with your daughter
ing happiness and how India can is  changing  our  lives,  material­ he says. principles  of  being  self­aware, year, is full of visual ‘happiness and listen to her concerns without rushing to belittle or fix
go the Nordic Way’. We’ve con­ ism is growing, and everywhere Motivational  speakers  and being aware of others and their stimuli’  —  bright  colours,  posi­ them with “adult wisdom”. It will be beneficial to use pro­
structed  reports  around  it,  like you go people talk of how hectic authors  who  have  some  in­ needs, and being able to under­ tive quotes and pleasant music. fessional help if you feel you will not be patient enough to
the World Happiness Report, in life has become,” he says. Bhima­ fluence over people have also ta­ stand  that  our  actions  have  a “The aim is to help people wit­ support her through this transition.
its  seventh  year  now  (India’s  at ni teaches a part of Gujarat Un­ ken  it  up  as  a  subject.  For  in­ consequence,”  he  says.  While ness their own thought process
140,  if  you’re  curious).  We’ve iversity’s Happiness Counselling stance,  the  book  Everything is happiness is addressed as a sub­ and then try and change any re­ Aarti C Rajaratnam is a Salem-based consultant psychologist at
marketed it as something we can certificate course. Begun recent­ F*cked talks  of  redefining  the ject in Class IV, he says the over­ curring  negative  thoughts,”  he Million Smiles, and is specialised in childhood and adolescent
capture: The Art of Making Me- ly, it covers subjects as diverse as concept of happiness, while The all idea is to have “happy class­ says. mental health with close to two decades of experience, working
mories: How to Create and Re- yoga,  meditation,  nutrition,  as Book of Kindness gives advice on rooms”,  where  teachers, As Founder­CEO of the School closely with parents, teachers and students
member Happy Moments is  a well as the psychology, philoso­ “How to make others happy and parents, and students all partici­ of  Inspired  Leadership  and  the Nothing in this column is intended to be, and is not, a
book  by  Meik  Wiking,  CEO  of phy and literature behind it. be  happy  yourself ”.  Professor pate in the course. one  who  instituted  the  Happy substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or
The  Happiness  Research  Insti­ Chandra Follows His Bliss by Ra­ “Teachers have to deliver it, so Places to Work Survey, Anil Sach­ treatment. Please seek independent advice from a licensed
tute  based  in  Denmark.  We’ve Teaching joy jeev  Balasubramanyam,  who they  engage  and  think  about  it dev talks of happiness in organi­ practitioner if you have any questions regarding a medi-
built  programmes  around  it: Can  you  teach  someone  to  be claims to be “an expert in medi­ before  they  do  so  (through  les­ sations  through  his  five­layer cal condition. Email us your questions at
Madhya  Pradesh’s  Rajya  Anand happy though? Not at all, he says. tation  and  mindfulness”,  is  fic­ sons on an app).” Sometimes, he programme. This involves com­ mp_health@thehindu.co.in
Sansthan, a government depart­ “But  you  can  understand the tion around the subject. Bhima­ says, through a writing exercise, munication well­being, physical
ment centred around happiness, science  behind  it  and  change ni, however, points out that it is children  may  realise  they’ve well­being,  emotional  well­be­
brought out an Anand Calendar, your lifestyle. You can show peo­ important  to  make  a  difference been unnecessarily rude to a pa­ ing, intellectual well­being, and
where each month was dedicat­ ple  a  path.”  And  you  can  learn between happiness that he calls rent.  “The  teacher  may  suggest inner  happiness.  Over  the  last
ed to a different aspect that feeds behaviours  that  could  lead  to a state of mind and the act of be­ that  they  share  what  they’ve year,  his  organisation  has  been
into happiness. And we’ve con­ happiness,  which  is  why  topics ing present in the moment, plea­ written  with  the  parent,  if  the formulating  a  Masters  pro­
sumed it, through Marie Kondo’s like gratefulness and forgiveness sure that’s temporary, and bliss child wants,” he says. It’s aspects gramme in Business Design that
joy­giving  things,  and  also are a part of the course. that’s a spiritual awakening. like  communication  and  em­ will include liberal arts courses.
Bhimani  says  the  stress  on pathy  that  feed  into  the  whole Happiness  will  be  a  part  of  the
happiness over the last year and Starting in schools happiness eco­system.  curriculum.  Perhaps  we  will
a half has seen all kinds of activi­ RoundGlass  is  a  company  that Rishabh Sharma, a DiSC­certi­ then have business leaders who
looks  at  health,  happiness  and fied behavioural trainer (DiSC is take the subject seriously.

GETTYIMAGES/ISTOCK
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You can hide your search history from your mother,

but you can’t hide it from big daddy Google. The Year
in Search is out, and in 2019, the average Indian was
Google
Let’s Instagram 
It’s 2.30 am, and you’re on Instagram, scrolling past a picture
of an aesthetically plated toast with 1257 likes. This prompts
you to check your latest picture with your five friends, which
TikTok
If there’s one social network
eager to change its image
regarding mental health, it is
really into… Dance! In a list of ‘Near me’ queries,
‘dance classes near me’ was on the top. Also turns out
that we checked the AQI near us, like one checks the
clock when on a deadline — far too often. Naturally, it
rewind has a measly 14 likes (of which five are by said friends). You
refresh the notifications page, waiting for that dopamine hit
you get with every red heart. This year, Instagram has taken
cognisance of the massive FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) that
TikTok. From skirting bans in
April owing to inappropriate
content, it has gone on to
launch campaigns with
was in November that our collective panic about air Google claims we the social network sparks, and is globally testing making like Suicide Prevention India
pollution peaked, with maximum counts private. This means that you will not be able to see Foundation. Its
searches coming in from — you
were obsessed with how many people have liked any given post unless it is your #YourLifeMatters, with 998
guessed it — Delhi. Given the AQI levels. Body own. CEO Adam Mosseri has told media that “the idea is to try million views, encouraged
year we have had then, we also image issues are so to depressurise Instagram, make it less of a competition, and people to prioritise self-care,
really dug into self-care: with give people more space to focus on connecting with the people they love and things that inspire practise self-compassion, and
‘salons near me’, and ‘spa near
2018, says Twitter. them.” The company hopes this will reduce anxiety and social comparison. debunk stigmas attached to
me’ coming in at the second and What does our Taking a stand against online bullying has been a big deal for Instagram this year. The other mental health issues.
tenth position respectively. In social media activity major feature rolled out was the ‘Restrict’ option. If you have restricted a certain account, their Given the app revolves
September this year, the Indian government banned comments on your posts will be invisible to others and their messages won’t appear on your around entertainment, fitness
e-cigarettes, specifically its sale, storage and tell us about Direct. While it is a great tool to fight hate messages, we wonder whether it will create a rules the space of health and
manufacture. Leading to many nudging Google in the cultural shifts in the convenient echo chamber, where chances of healthy debates go out the window. wellbeing. The top hashtag,
side, and whispering, ‘What is e-cigarette?’ (The query health and wellness #FitnessFreak, with 2 billion
was fifth on ‘What is…’ list, right after ‘What is howdy views, saw a whole bunch of
Modi?’) Speaking of addictions, the game that bowled space? people lifting weights,
Gen Z over, and had Indian parents complaining to PM
Twitter performing acrobatic feats,
:: Sweta Akundi Maybe the era of body-
Modi in public meetings — ‘How to play PUBG’, found and contorting themselves in
the seventh spot in Google’s ‘How to’ list. Right ahead neutrality has truly arrived, yoga postures, to Punjabi and
of it, however, was ‘How to remove Holi colour from LinkedIn as recent Twitter data has hip hop music.
hair’ proving that some things never change. Looking to make a career in health? You may revealed that body Interestingly, content
want to shift to Miami, Orlando, San Francisco image, diet, and creators on TikTok have
Bay Area, or Seattle. LinkedIn’s report on physical appearance flipped traditional gender
emerging jobs in India is predictably filled no longer dominate roles. The top creator in the
with engineers. However, the US report the conversation. fitness space is Gunjan
mentions ‘Behavioural Health Technician’ as The company Shouts, who advises her 2.8
one of the top 15 upcoming careers. sampled tweets million followers on the best
“Increased health insurance coverage for from 2016 to 2019 ways to lift weights, and
mental health and substance abuse treatment to find that maintain a protein-rich diet.
has likely created this increased demand for conversation On the other hand, the top
Behavioural Health Technicians, many of around mind and two creators in the beauty
whom specialise in working with patients who mental health has gone up by 122%. space are men. Paras Tomar,
have autism or behavioural disorders and are The top hashtag in health? #SelfCareSundays — your with 2 million followers and
working with children in school neigbours in the twitterverse offering you advice on how to best Mridul Madhok, with 6.6
environments,” says the report. prepare for the coming week. After all, you need that “glow up.” million followers, share tips
Meanwhile, talk of physical fitness has gone down by 75%. But on mixing face and hair packs
when we do talk about it, it is very much data-driven. Turns out, we are at home.
heavily reliant on our apps and devices to optimise our health. We have
evolved beyond fitness trackers: it’s less about counting steps and heart rate
(down by 85%) and more about DNA testing, managing sleep, and monitoring bodily rhythms.
For example, we, especially women, are talking about hormone-tracking apps 13% more than
previous years.
Dieting, detox and pharmaceutical solutions to beauty? Please, that’s so 2018. The coming
decade is all about going traditional, and improving holistic health. Awareness on gut health and
CBD oil is seeing a massive jump. But nothing compares to the leap in tweets on intermittent
fasting — an astonishing 4497%.

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IMAGES: GETTYIMAGES/ISTOCK

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