CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The World Happiness Report released this week lists the U.S. as the 24th happiest country in the world, its lowest rank in 13th years.
Clinical mental health therapist Jarrett Evans says most of his clients are dealing with levels of stress from the world around the.
“Mainly because of finances and the state of the economy,” Evans says. He’s the founder and CEO of Revision Counselling and Wellness and Clinical Mental Health Therapies.
He says the unhappiness comes in when people don’t have the proper stress-management tools.
“It will be kind of hard to interact with folks if I have bills on my mind or if I’m dealing with my kids or relationship issues,” he said.
One of the contributors to the World Happiness Report believes “life satisfaction of young people under 30 in the U.S. has declined.” Researchers say the U.S. wouldn’t even rank in the top 60 happiest countries since the report only talked to that group of people.
“So anybody turning the age 13 to 28 this year is more socially disconnected than any other age group,” said UNC Charlotte Sociology Professor Dr. Megan Smith. “And we’re looking at numbers between 61 and 79% of those in that age range reporting that they feel socially disconnected.”
She says being socially disconnected, lonely and anxious will force people to see the world through a different lens. Researchers found in 2023, nearly one-in-five young adults in the U.S. said they had no one they could count on for support. The number of people dining alone has increased by 53% since 2003.
“Solitude is the luxury of being socially connected and wanting to spend time on your own. People take solo trips all the time,” Smith explained. “They do that for time, for self-reflection, too, to get some energy, maybe to not get away. I mean, you know, to get away from the noise of their lives. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s healthy.”
While spending their Friday evening at the Ballantyne Bowl, the Beder family says they could see how some people would feel less happy than normal, but it’s not something they can relate too. They rated their happiness at an 8.
Young Emily Beder says playing with her friends makes her happy, while her 12-year-old sister Eva listed her phone and her friends.
“I want my family to feel happy and healthy and be around me and all of us together, that’s the most important thing,” their mom Yulia said.
Mental health experts encourage finding something rewarding as well as relaxing as the best way to increase happiness — whether you’re already happy or needing a boost and always finding a healthy balance of connecting with family and friends.
“Understanding what basic human needs are needed, but also understand you need safety and security as well too,” Evans said. “As you go think about the heart, your needs, and how love and belongingness – that comes next and self-esteem comes after that. And finding ways to address those levels can improve your mental happiness.”
“First of all, put down our devices and be present and meet those people with which you are interacting with, like your friends on social media, meet them in person,” Smith said. “Our bodies produce a hormone that actually makes us happier and connects us and makes us feel this excitement that we don’t have when we’re sending reels to our friends on Instagram.”
She says that will in turn build trust and lead to less social disconnection.
