The Science of Health and Happiness

The RCSI Centre for Positive Health Sciences presents a new online public course entitled ‘The Science of Health and Happiness’.

Download a resource manual for the programme below.

RCSI Science of Health and Happiness - Resource Manual PDF | 8282.4 KB

Find information on the course and learn about diseases of lifestyle and the challenge of being healthy and happy in the modern world. This lecture is delivered by Professor Ciaran O'Boyle, Director, RCSI Centre for Positive Psychology and Health.

Useful resources

RCSI Science of Health and Happiness - week 1 information PDF | 1650.8 KB RCSI Science of Health and Happiness - PAVING the Path to Wellness PDF | 265.7 KB

This lecture is delivered by Dr Pádraic Dunne, Lecturer, RCSI Centre for Positive Psychology and Health, and explores mind-body connections in health and disease. How are our minds, our brains and our bodies interlinked? What are the roots of positive health? 

Useful resources

RCSI Science of Health and Happiness - week 2 information PDF | 519.8 KB

This lecture is delivered by Dr Pádraic Dunne, Lecturer, RCSI Centre for Positive Psychology and Health, and explores the six pillars of lifestyle medicine: exercise, diet, sleep, mental health, relationships and substance control.

Watch 'Week 3 – Whole person health' here

Useful resources

RCSI Science of Health and Happiness - week 3 information PDF | 1469.8 KB

This lecture is delivered by Professor Ciaran O’Boyle, Director, RCSI Centre for Positive Psychology and Health, and explores misconceptions about happiness, if we can study happiness scientifically, and why mindset matters.

Watch 'Week 4 – What are the routes to happiness? (part 1)' here

Useful resources

RCSI Science of Health and Happiness - week 4 information PDF | 717.6 KB

This lecture is delivered by Dr Trudy Meehan, Lecturer, RCSI Centre for Positive Psychology and Health, and explores gratitude, empathy, compassion and kindness, love and positive relationships, and strategies for finding happiness.

Watch 'Week 5 – What are the routes to happiness? (part 2)' here

Useful resources

RCSI Science of Health and Happiness - week 5 information PDF | 1575.4 KB

This lecture is delivered by Dr Padraic Dunne, Lecturer, RCSI Centre for Positive Psychology and Health, and focuses on mindfulness and meditation.

Watch 'Week 6 – Meditation for health' here

Useful resources

RCSI Science of Health and Happiness - week 6 information PDF | 1278.6 KB

This lecture is delivered by Dr Trudy Meehan, Lecturer, RCSI Centre for Positive Psychology and Health, and focuses on understanding emotional intelligence, how to cultivate positive emotions and the meaning of 'flow'.

Watch 'Week 7 – Your emotions and you' here.

Useful resources

RCSI Science of Health and Happiness - week 7 information PDF | 987.8 KB

This lecture is delivered by Professor Ciaran O’Boyle, Director, RCSI Centre for Positive Psychology and Health, and focuses on resilience trauma and growth, how we find and use our core strengths and how we develop optimism.

Watch 'Week 8 – Your strongest self' here.

Useful resources

RCSI Science of Health and Happiness - week 8 information PDF | 1120.7 KB

This lecture is delivered by Dr Trudy Meehan, Lecturer, RCSI Centre for Positive Psychology and Health, and focuses on fostering happiness, health and well-being in childhood and adolescence and how to age well.

Watch 'Week 9 – Happiness across the lifespan' here.

Useful resources

RCSI Science of Health and Happiness - week 9 information PDF | 2149.8 KB

This lecture is delivered by all the faculty and explores the key takeaways from the programme and key strategies for happiness and health.

Watch 'Week 10 – Putting it all together' here.

Useful resources

RCSI Science of Health and Happiness - week 10 information PDF | 911.1 KB