With the UK general election just around the corner, many of us living in the UK are contemplating which party offers the best future for ourselves, our loved ones and society at large. ‘Best future’ obviously means different things for different people, and politicians often struggle to address these diverse needs comprehensively. But we believe there’s a simple solution: take a wellbeing approach to the way in which government policies are assessed, created and implemented, and you will improve the quality of life of individuals. Which is why we’re urging the next administration to put population wellbeing at the heart of its programme of government.

But what do we mean by ‘put wellbeing at the heart of its programme of government’? We mean that every new policy should be evaluated through a wellbeing lens i.e. asking from the outset, how will this policy impact peoples’ quality of life? Just as the environmental impacts of policies are now routinely considered through a ‘green’ lens, the potential effects on population wellbeing must also be critically assessed.

Why is this important? Because wellbeing is a fundamental human right. It encompasses how we feel about our lives and underpins everything. Policies are often evaluated based on their economic return on investment, but we argue that improvements in life satisfaction – the most reliable method of measuring population wellbeing – should also be a key metric for measurement. And research shows that focusing on the wellbeing of people drives economic growth as well.

It’s disappointing, then, for us to see that wellbeing is only mentioned 23 times across the seven main manifestos. If any new government were to take this ‘wellbeing approach’, here are the five policies that we believe would emerge as priorities:

1. Wellbeing should be integral in every government department’s policymaking.

The Treasury has the Green Book guidance on considering wellbeing in policy development. But this guidance needs to come off the page and into the front of minds of decision makers across every department. Wellbeing should not solely be the concern of the Department of Health or the Department of Housing, Levelling Up and Communities.

2. Housing and transport systems designed to foster social connection.

This includes creating affordable housing with efficient public transport links, and, ensuring easy access to parks and nature, which are beneficial for mental health.

3. Investment in preventative services like social prescribing.

This should be at the heart of the Department for Health’s plans for the next few years. Activities such as walking groups, art classes, music therapy, book clubs, and befriending services have been shown to significantly enhance quality of life by addressing social, emotional, and practical needs.

4. Improved access to grassroots sports clubs and green spaces.

These initiatives promote physical activity and social interaction, contributing positively to individuals’ overall wellbeing. This includes efforts to increase diversity in sports participation and ensure better access for those living in underserved areas.

5. Improved regulation around workplace wellbeing.

With about 33 million adults in the UK workforce, and workplace stress levels reportedly higher than ever before, it’s crucial to strengthen regulations to protect employee mental health and wellbeing. This includes creating supportive working conditions, addressing risks that could harm employee mental health in the workplace, and ensuring both a preventative and reactive approach. Employers above a certain size should be required to measure employee wellbeing using science-based measures and develop action plans for improvement where necessary.

As we approach the election, we believe the incoming government needs to reflect on the true goal of government. Given that our wellbeing has not fully recovered to pre-Covid levels, the primary aim of the incoming administration should be to implement policies that significantly improve the health and wellbeing of our nation.