Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the twenty-first century reach and impact of “happiness” work by one individual (Professor Lord Richard Layard).
Design/methodology/approach
The author approaches his work as a public health case study, with the caveat that the author knew this “Case” personally, which could influence the author’s assessment.
Findings
During 2005-2018, Richard Layard stimulated discussion of “happiness” as a field of study. This field now has global relevance to mental health, although its relationship to practice for population health is still debated.
Originality/value
Layard’s ideas are behind many initiatives, such as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies.