Although we are now richer than at any time in history there is no evidence that we are happier – indeed the statistics and simple observation would suggest that we are more miserable.  In a famous study Harvard students were asked which they would choose if offered either an annual income of $50,000 while most people earned less or $100,000 while most earned more.  Overwhelmingly respondents would choose the $50,000 – relatively higher but absolutely lower.  What matters is not what you’ve got but how that compares to expectations or norms.  Our modern life exploits this simple idea and drives us mad – keeping up with the Joneses takes all our effort and we can never be satisfied.

And in many other ways our way of life dooms us to dissatisfaction.  Advertisements require us to be the perfect body shape, to have a fantastic social life, to envy others.  We give people many ways to fail and not many to succeed.  We fail to applaud the simple small achievements of ordinary folk.  Parents pass on the failings of their own parents.

So, eliminating misery and depression is a good place to start.  For many years the only treatment for depression that the NHS had available was anti-depressant drugs.  Fine, they help but we can do better.  In recent years a treatment known as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has become much more widely used.  This is a short term course of therapy to help the patient understand better how to overcome the negative thought patterns that affect their behavior and mood.  Try this website for more explanation of how it works - http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/treatments/cbt.aspx .  It seems to be hugely successful – so much so that in my (humble) opinion the T should stand for training and Cognitive Behaviour Training should be part of the school curriculum so that we just avoid depression altogether.

CBT is available on the NHS but there are nothing like enough trained therapists at present so waiting lists are long and the time you get is often not enough.  But there are lots of self-help facilities around and, because it is a short-term treatment typically requiring only six sessions, private treatment is not catastrophically expensive.

Teenagers often have to cope with very strong (albeit usually temporary) depressions.  Parents often feel personal guilt for this as though it is a fault with their parenting.  Try here for advice - http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counselloradvice9762.html