Abstract
Introduction
Despite centuries of attempts to clearly define what human happiness is and how to achieve it, no one has completely succeeded in defining happiness or showing the only one way to achieve it. But still, the pursuit of happiness as an unalienable right of human beings who have been striving for it for eons remains a relevant topic for everyone, including psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health specialists. Nowadays, great importance is placed on the positive aspects of mental health, active functioning in the world, and overall well-being.
Purpose
Integrating psychological and philosophical perspectives, this paper aims to explore the phenomenon of happiness as a core component of mental health and well-being.
Methodology
The authors conducted a systematic search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar, using search terms: happiness; subjective well-being; experience of happiness; mental health; psychological well-being; eudaimonia; resilience; quality of life; traumatic experience; cultural trauma; sociocultural factors; culture. The authors used phenomenological philosophical, hermeneutic and inductive approaches, as well as the interpretive research paradigm.
Results
The attention of contemporary researchers is focused on the place and role of happiness in mental health and well-being. Though ideas on happiness present a whole range of options, two main directions can still be identified, namely, eudaemonism and hedonism, in which happiness has been used to describe both momentary assessments of affect and life evaluations. Contemporary researchers have developed several approaches to well-being mainly emphasizing its eudaimonic character.
Conclusion
The dramatic shift in approaches to mental health and well-being with an emphasis on positivity has expanded understanding of factors and conditions that promote or undermine our mental health and well-being. Such an understanding should lead to the creation of conditions for individual flourishing, social prosperity and overall well-being offering innovative solutions to complex individual, organizational, and societal problems.