A private medical college in Lucknow has opened a department of Happiness to promote a sense of well-being and interest among teachers and students. Era Medical College located on Hardoi Road here is the first higher education institution in the state that has a Department of Happiness.

The project was initiated to promote stress management in the medical profession and with the aim that doctors and paramedics could meet patients with smiles on their faces.There are currently 290 students taking part in this month-long happiness classes, of which 150 are from medical, 80 from nursing and 60 from pharmacy department.

These will later be broadcast to other parts of the University of Era, which manages the medical college.These special classes, held three days a week, include experts from various medical departments, including medicine, clinical psychology and psychiatry, with spiritual leaders and motivational speakers under one roof.

During this time, through video, story or experience, the neuroscience behind happiness, concept, feeling of well-being, positive and negative attitude, frustration and tolerance, empathy, apathy and altruism, bold language and communication are told.

According to the Vice Chancellor of the university, Abbas Ali Mahdi, ‘this is just a pilot program. The grade will depend on how scientific questionnaires are prepared to assess factors related to happiness. After one month they will be rated by a psychologist and given a certificate. In the coming years, we plan to start a diploma and certificate course in addition to the spread of classes for students beyond the medical college.
Professor Mita Ghosh, Head of Happiness Department, said, “Our aim is to remove negativity, stress, sorrow and distress in the institute so that these future doctors and paramedics can give their positivity to patients.”