Happiness Index is being introduced to the Thompson Okanagan

Are you happy?

It's one of those esoteric, and almost impossible, questions to answer.

But the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association is taking a stab at it by having Thompson Rivers University ply the Planet Happiness survey locally to determine the region's Happiness Index.

An index score of 70 or more out of 100 indicates happiness.

For the index, happiness, or sadness, is determined after people answer a series of 68 questions rather than simply asking: Are you happy?

"Happy does not mean perfect, or 100," says Professor John Hull of Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, who is helping with the survey.

"It's not even about being happy all the time. But, overall, to be happy you usually have psychological wellbeing, a good standard of living and positive personal relationships."

The tourism association wants to know if residents of the Thompson Okanagan are happy, or not, because cheerful locals is one of the United Nations' requirements of having a sustainable tourism industry.

Soon, anyone can take the survey by going to totabc.org/happiness-index.

In the survey, you'll be asked 68 questions in 11 categories by way of 1-10 rankings or multiple choice of strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree or strongly agree.

You'll be asked questions about how satisfied you are with your life, health, job, money situation, personal relationships, access to recreation and if you have lots of evergy and spare time.

At the end of the survey, you'll be given a personalized Happiness Index summary including your overall score out of 100 and scores in 11 categories.

From the thousands who take the survey in the region, the Thompson Okanagan Happiness Index will be determined.

"Most other regions that have a Happiness Index tend to have a score in the happy range," says Hull.

"I tend to think the Thompson Okanagan will too because Canada is safe and a great place to live, we have a good standard of living and access to health care and recreation. However, there may be individuals who are unhappy with their job, health, finances, psychological wellbeing, personal relationships or be lonely."

Planet Happiness is based in Australia and has provided surveys and support for regions all over the world to develop Happiness Indexes.

"You'd think that developed countries like Canada and Australia would have the highest index scores," states Hull.

"But, you'd be surprised that the highest indexes are actually in Latin America and Asia. In Cambodia, for instance, they don't have much materially, but they tend to be happy. In the developed world, people are more likely to be unsatisfied with life for psychological reasons or because they feel isolated."

Thus said, the Thompson Okanagan survey takes on extra meaning because it's really also asking people how they are dealing with the pandemic and now they're coping.

The survey will be repeated annually to establish trends and see if communities are making improvements in areas of concern pointed out by survey takers.

"Over time, the Happiness Index will help measure how well this is being done by engaging with residents directly," says Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association CEO Glenn Mandziuk.

"These findings will assist us in assessing how the region is meeting the UN sustainable development goals, as well as inform our ongoing efforts toward tourism recovery and resiliency."

Printed copies of the survey might also be distributed through municipalities and community centres.

It's not known yet how long the survey will be open or when results will be released.

Personally, Hull says he's happy.

He's in remission after a battle with prostate cancer.

"I must confess though, some days I'm very grateful and other days I'm exhausted," he says.

"And I imagine that's the kind of mixed responses we'll get in the survey."