Su Ha, which stands for Sustainable Happiness, is a new hybrid wellbeing practice system to support the flourishing of life in ourselves, other people and our world. It combines evidence-based pathways to feeling and functioning well with change-makings skills that grow our capacity to make a difference in the world. It has been designed as a wellbeing practice system for the 21st century, and takes into account major threats to collective wellbeing such as the climate crisis, extreme inequality and the risk, or presence, of war.
You can read an article introducing the Su Ha approach published in the Journal of Holistic Health at this link.
You can watch a 35 mins video introduction to Su Ha on You Tube at this link.
But what evidence is there that Su Ha makes any difference? Please see below a summary, including links to hard data supporting its main beneficial impacts. We have included references supporting practices and approaches Su Ha is based on or draws from. This page is still being developed, and we’ll be continuing to add more evidence statements as they become available.
- Evidence-based wellbeing approaches taken as sources for Su Ha moves.
a) The Su Ha move A + C = T is inspired by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. This is an evidence-based psychological therapy approach shown to be effective in treating depression and anxiety. For a review of research evidence, please see Gloster A. et al “The empirical status of acceptance and commitment therapy: A review of meta-analyses”, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212144720301940
b) The move of problem solving involves a structured problem solving process shown to effective in the treatment of anxiety and depression. For a research review, please see J Am Board Fam Med 2018;31: 139 –150 at https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/153303/2018ZhangetalJABFM.pdf?sequence=1
c) The move of Exercise snack – please see this review by Jones M et al in Sports Medicine at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38190022/#:~:text=In%20conclusion%2C%20exercise%20snacks%20appear,randomised%20trials%20or%20qualitative%20studies.
2) Evidence from Post-course survey on Active Hope for Building Change Making Capacity.
Chris Johnstone and Madeleine Young, two of the Su Ha Training Team, developed a free online course in Active Hope at https://activehope.training Thousands of people from over 60 countries have engaged with this. A post course survey of the first 250 people completing this showed that over 92% found the course had significantly strengthened their motivation to act for positive change and their belief they could make a difference, leaving them feeling less overwhelmed or defeated by their concerns for the world and also nourished by their experience of having taken part. This approach is one of the roots of Su Ha, and the change making skills are largely drawn from the Active Hope approach. For more information, please see the chapter by Chris Johnstone in the book “Holding the Hope”.
3) Case study report after Su Ha pilot course Sept – Nov 2023
Written by Madeleine Young, drawing on post-course interviews with participants. You can download this report from this link.