Teaching Positivity and Relaxation with Ernie Brooks

Dive into Episode #125 of the Psych Health and Safety USA Podcast, featuring host Dr. I. David Daniels, PhD, CSD, VPS, and special guest Ernie Brooks, a positivity and relaxation instructor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Mr. Brooks is also active with students at his alma mater, Anna Maria College, as a member of the alumni association Board of Directors. He prides himself in creating genuine connections with students and safe spaces for them to be their best selves as they navigate the college experience. In the 2024 World Happiness Report, the United States ranks 23rd, the first time in the report's history that the U.S. has fallen out of the top 20. The U.S. was ranked 15th in 2023. The report also indicated that young people, particularly those aged 15-24 (Generation Z), report lower happiness levels than older generations in many regions, including North America, Western Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. Concerns about their future, economic instability, and mental health contribute to this trend; essentially, they feel less happy than their elders. These data suggest that organizations of all types and sizes should expect that Gen Z will need support from a mental health perspective. To support Gen Z mental health, organizations should prioritize providing readily accessible mental health resources, promoting work-life balance, offering flexible work arrangements, educating leaders on recognizing mental health concerns, incorporating stress management tools, and fostering a culture that openly discusses mental health issues, including utilizing platforms like meditation apps and wellness programs tailored to Gen Z's needs. In this elective course, Ernie is seeking to meet students where they are and provide them with roles that will help them be more positive and relaxed in their education pursuits and in their lives.