THE HAPHE PLEDGE
I do not pour all of myself into one thing. Not one person. Not one dream. Not one plan.
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Loss in young people is often misunderstood.
Instead of being recognised, it’s labelled as laziness, entitlement, or lack of focus. But behind many struggles is a deeper story loss reshaping how students see themselves and their futures.
This project began with student-led research, including early work by a student researcher at the University of Oxford, and grew through listening.
By capturing what usually goes unnoticed, we’re not just filming stories.
We’re documenting a shared student reality and showing why understanding it matters.
At the heart of this project is a simple idea.
We borrowed an ancient Greek word to describe it:
HAPHE (pronounced HAR-FAY).
HAPHE is about connection and balance.
Across hundreds of student conversations, one pattern kept appearing:
when most or all of ourselves is poured into one thing one person, one dream, one plan unexpected change hits harder.
Why We're Doing This
I don't want to take the HAPHE pledge but not share
Leading a HAPHE pledge team means helping your team take the pledge and campaign without friction. Leadership and motivation
FAQ
Further research has since found that anxiety, trauma, and dependency-driven connections are fueling a mental health crisis, with depression rates rising fastest among young people. Our research, alongside The World Health Organization findings, highlights how trauma-related emotional patterns are a key contributor. We borrowed the word HAPHE (Ancient Greek) It means to connect for the good of the whole. We say not happiness-driven but HAPHE- driven connections.
At HAPHE, we tackle this at the root by bringing attention to diverse, balanced emotional connections as a means to reduce vulnerability and prevent long-term harm. Arming ourselves with the understanding and experience that each connection rebalanced is a step toward resilience, agency, and well-being.
What HAPHE Does
With a collective voice we are spotlighting and encouraging diverse, balanced emotional connections, creating tools and insights that empower young people to help themselves and each other to build their own resilience. Our research focused on self-agency, strength, and lasting well-being.
Our Why
In today's rapidly evolving landscape, the way we connect with our world has been transformed by the accessibility of media networks, technological advancements, and evolving marketing processes. These connections have emerged as vital triggers for overall well-being, making them of utmost importance in modern history. Furthermore, with a growing population of young individuals and a dynamic job market, the significance of fostering healthy connections becomes even more pronounced.
The need for proactive depression prevention planning is paramount as our social culture continues to evolve. It is crucial to strike a balance, acknowledging that deep connections must be regulated in this age while recognizing the fervent desire of marketing agencies and brands to foster such connections. This calls for an intervention—an intervention that can shape the way we navigate and prioritize our connections in a manner that safeguards mental well-being and promotes a healthier social landscape.
