Why we need positive education 2.0

Abstract

What's next in well-being? We argue it's Positive Education 2.0. The American psychologist Corey Keyes explains, "It is often said that our youth is this nation's future. If true, then there is too much mental illness to look forward to in the future" (Keyes C, The nature and importance of positive mental health in America's Adolescents. In: Furlong MJ, Gilman R, Huebner ES. Handbook of positive psychology in schools. Routledge, New York, pp 9-23, 2014). Never before have schools received the call to educate a new generation to lead global challenges of such complexity. Notwithstanding Keyes observations, this is a global challenge and it requires a global approach as the World Health Organization predicts by 2030, depression will be the highest level of disability of any mental or physical disorder (World Health Organization; Impact of economic crises on mental health. Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, 2011). We need Positive Education 2.0, which is informed by entrepreneurship, innovation and hands-on discovery for young people. We believe in doing this; positive education should now move toward programs that teach innovation through project-based learning teams, in which students will focus on solving real-life challenges.