On March 20, 2025 the 2025 World Happiness Report was released. The choice of the date to release the report coincidence as it coincides with the UN’s International Day of Happiness. The 2025 report has several key findings as they relate to counseling metrics. For example, an assessment that was used for data on subjective well-being is the Cantril Ladder. The Cantril Ladder was created by psychologist Hadley Cantril in 1965. It is a self-assessment tool used to measure an individual’s perceived quality of life. It asks respondents to imagine a ladder with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom (worst possible life) to 10 a the top (best possible life). Respondents are then asked to rate their current and future life satisfaction. The tool is widely used in research and surveys. The Cantril Ladder is suitable for use with adults and adolescents. This makes it a versatile tool for use with various age groups. Another reason this tool is so versatile is that there is not an assessment form that needs to be downloaded. To conduct this assessment, one just needs to use their imagination!
Find More Assessments on Well-being
If you would like additional information about assessments that can be used to measure subjective well-being, please visit my wellbeing assessment page at: https://counselingmetrics.com/wellbeing-assessments/.
Additional Findings
Additional findings that relate to the field of mental health counseling include but are not limited to:
- Impact of Social Connections: The report emphasizes the importance of social connections for mental well-being. It found that people who regularly share meals with others tend to have better mental health and higher levels of happiness compared to those who often dine alone
- Benevolence and Mental Health: Acts of kindness and caring for others have a positive impact on mental health. The report notes that both the recipients and the givers of benevolent acts experience improved well-being
- Support Systems: Having strong support systems, such as family and friends, is crucial for mental health. The report found that individuals with robust social networks are less likely to experience mental health issues
- Prosocial Behavior: Engaging in prosocial behavior, such as volunteering and helping others, can reduce the risk of “deaths of despair” (suicides, drug overdoses, and alcohol-related deaths). This highlights the protective effect of community involvement on mental health.
The 2025 World Happiness Report was published by the Wellbeing Research Center at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. To learn more about the report or to read it in its entirety, please visit: https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2025/?_bhlid=64d9590f721c8a00d8eb2d41364e0cf96926a847.
Love,
Lisa Wells, LMHC