What's Well & Good in Policy

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Good policy should show up in better lives. What's Well & Good in Policy follows the research testing that promise, from universal basic income and health insurance to mental health supports, living wages, schools, sustainability, and the politics of wellbeing. Subscribe for the premium version of this podcast: https://paperboy.fm/podcasts/public-policy-health-and-welfare/subscribe

  1. 2d ago

    Cash Transfers + Greenways: Does Access Decide Wellbeing?

    This week follows cash transfer barriers in Nairobi, post-greenway inequalities in Belfast, and US wellbeing valuation as policy ambition meets delivery. Covers 2026-08-10 to 2026-08-17; 5 free papers from 40 selected papers. Good policy should show up in better lives. What's Well & Good in Policy follows the research testing that promise, from universal basic income and health insurance to mental health supports, living wages, schools, sustainability, and the politics of wellbeing. Episode covers 2026-08-10 – 2026-08-17. Top papers That’s Priceless? A Case Study in Monetizing Wellbeing in Impact Evaluation Effects of Cash Transfer Program Attributes on the Wellbeing of the Elderly The eco-affective health assessment protocol: a standardized multimodal instrument battery for measuring affective, cognitive, and functional responses to environmental change Humanistic Burden and Gaps in Care and Treatment Policies of Obesity in Canada: A Systematic Review. Changes in health inequalities before and after a major urban greenway intervention: Evidence from a 6-year follow-up in the UK. Themes: mental health, public health, wellbeing, health promotion, psychological wellbeing, sustainability, older adults, resilience Methods: qualitative, survey, quantitative, case-study, thematic analysis, cross-sectional Premium News Premium also covers 10 related news stories, including nature.com — NIH limits funding for research on the health effects of public policy, mexicobusiness.news — Financing Gap, Obesity Push, EU Deal Define Health This Week, and tribuneindia.com — Mental health interventions for students underway in 767 ... Upgrade to Premium The premium version of this podcast covers all 40 research articles and 10 news stories selected for the episode. Subscribe to the premium podcast. Generated by paperboy.fm.

    Cash Transfers + Greenways: Does Access Decide Wellbeing?

  2. 6d ago

    Can reduced schedules and affirming leaders protect care workers?

    A reduced work schedule pilot and trans-affirming school leadership findings put worker wellbeing at the center of this week’s policy picture. Covers 2026-08-03 to 2026-08-10; 5 free papers from 40 selected papers. Good policy should show up in better lives. What's Well & Good in Policy follows the research testing that promise, from universal basic income and health insurance to mental health supports, living wages, schools, sustainability, and the politics of wellbeing. Episode covers 2026-08-03 – 2026-08-10. Top papers Trans-affirming leaders’ professional capital: a critical mixed-methods study of educational policies, organizational practices and leadership on trans school workers' health Evaluation of a Reduced Work Schedule and Housing Authority Employee Wellbeing Can digital village policy support sustainable rural transformation? a multi-dimensional evaluation of governance, development, and environmental livability in China Valuing impact: Estimating return on investment of mental health and wellbeing projects for veterans and first responders Systematic Review of Community Interventions for the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence and the Promotion of Well-Being among Vulnerable Women Themes: mental health, public health, wellbeing, community engagement, education, COVID-19, well-being, older adults Methods: qualitative, survey, quantitative, longitudinal, thematic analysis, mixed-methods Premium News Premium also covers 10 related news stories, including iol.co.za — Experts applaud South Africa's new strategy for children, urging action on mental health, english.scio.gov.cn — China to expand lifelong support for people with autism, and kffhealthnews.org — A Shrinking Safety Net. Upgrade to Premium The premium version of this podcast covers all 40 research articles and 10 news stories selected for the episode. Subscribe to the premium podcast. Generated by paperboy.fm.

    Can reduced schedules and affirming leaders protect care workers?

  3. Aug 5

    Remote work + paid leave: workplace policy as health policy

    Remote employees reported higher wellbeing than hybrid or onsite peers, while a paid-leave synthesis links leave guarantees to retention, maternal health, and infant survival. Covers 2026-07-27 to 2026-08-03; 5 free papers from 40 selected papers. Good policy should show up in better lives. What's Well & Good in Policy follows the research testing that promise, from universal basic income and health insurance to mental health supports, living wages, schools, sustainability, and the politics of wellbeing. Episode covers 2026-07-27 – 2026-08-03. Top papers Rethinking return-to-office: the positive impact of remote work on well-being, connection, and employee retention Workplace Mental Health Programs for Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review Associations Between the Nurse Work Environment and Job Outcomes Among Inpatient Psychiatric Mental Health Registered Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study. Paid family leave and paid sick leave as economic investments: Evidence for improving workforce stability and population health in the United States Measurement of Human Flourishing Constructs in Evaluation of Voluntary Family Planning Interventions: A Modified Scoping Review of the Literature Themes: mental health, work-life balance, older adults, wellbeing, burnout, public health, employee performance, quality of life Methods: qualitative, survey, quantitative, thematic analysis, case-study, systematic review Premium News Premium also covers 10 related news stories, including africanewshunt.com — South Africa Expands Community Mental Health Network to Improve Early Care Access, pib.gov.in — Advancing Mental Healthcare in India, and pib.gov.in — Advancing India's Mental Healthcare and Well-Being. Upgrade to Premium The premium version of this podcast covers all 40 research articles and 10 news stories selected for the episode. Subscribe to the premium podcast. Generated by paperboy.fm.

    Remote work + paid leave: workplace policy as health policy

  4. Aug 3

    Paid Leave Needs Supervisor Backing? Plus: Beyond Blue at 25

    Formal entitlements and national campaigns matter most when the surrounding systems help people trust, reach, and use them in daily life. Covers 2026-07-20 to 2026-07-27; 5 free papers from 40 selected papers. Good policy should show up in better lives. What's Well & Good in Policy follows the research testing that promise, from universal basic income and health insurance to mental health supports, living wages, schools, sustainability, and the politics of wellbeing. Episode covers 2026-07-20 – 2026-07-27. Top papers From Basic Needs to Higher Fulfillment: Resource Use and Its Impact on Sustainable Well-Being Beyond awareness: 25 years of population data on the impact of Australia’s Beyond Blue Health Mode On and Health Mode On Plus: a multisite protocol to assess and promote mental wellbeing and healthy lifestyles among Italian university students Provision of continuity of midwifery care in Australia: An analysis of structural and contextual factors. Digital Dependency or Digital Autonomy? Evaluating the Efficacy of India’s Emerging Policy Framework for Youth Mental Health Themes: mental health, public health, work-life balance, wellbeing, well-being, climate change, public policy, job satisfaction Methods: qualitative, survey, case-study, quantitative, cross-sectional, thematic analysis Premium News Premium also covers 10 related news stories, including news.gallup.com — Wellbeing, sciencedaily.com — Health Policy News, and afro.who.int — News Releases - WHO | Regional Office for Africa. Upgrade to Premium The premium version of this podcast covers all 40 research articles and 10 news stories selected for the episode. Subscribe to the premium podcast. Generated by paperboy.fm.

    Paid Leave Needs Supervisor Backing? Plus: Beyond Blue at 25

  5. Jul 22

    Do Benefit Caps Harm Children? Plus: Paid Family Leave

    Across UK child welfare limits, U.S. paid family leave, and flexible work for adult care, the episode asks when policy changes the conditions that shape wellbeing. Covers 2026-07-13 to 2026-07-20; 5 free papers from 40 selected papers. Good policy should show up in better lives. What's Well & Good in Policy follows the research testing that promise, from universal basic income and health insurance to mental health supports, living wages, schools, sustainability, and the politics of wellbeing. Episode covers 2026-07-13 – 2026-07-20. Top papers Social investment versus workfare policies: Exploring the impact on recipients’ subjective well-being and trust in welfare state caseworkers in a Dutch social assistance experiment The impact of paid family leave on parent and infant health outcomes: a systematic review of quasi-experimental research. Who benefits more from an improved social health insurance? Evidence from supplementary high-cost illness insurance in China. A hybrid implementation-effectiveness study of a school-based intervention for promoting health and well-being in low-resource settings: the ISOBAR study protocol A framework for analysing family policy and an application to the UK Themes: mental health, public health, sustainability, wellbeing, health equity, resilience, community engagement, COVID-19 Methods: qualitative, survey, case-study, systematic review, thematic analysis, quantitative Premium News Premium also covers 10 related news stories, including news.gallup.com — Wellbeing, frontiersin.org — Climate change, health and environmental policy in Africa - Frontiers, and lowyinstitute.org — Beijing’s welfare bill that no one wants to pay | Lowy Institute. Upgrade to Premium The premium version of this podcast covers all 40 research articles and 10 news stories selected for the episode. Subscribe to the premium podcast. Generated by paperboy.fm.

    Do Benefit Caps Harm Children? Plus: Paid Family Leave

  6. Jul 13

    Green Space + Urban Regeneration: Can Places Improve Wellbeing?

    New papers connect urban regeneration, early-life greenness, youth climate distress, telework, and basic-income linkage to the practical question of how wellbeing policy gets measured. Covers 2026-07-06 to 2026-07-13; 5 free papers from 40 selected papers. Good policy should show up in better lives. What's Well & Good in Policy follows the research testing that promise, from universal basic income and health insurance to mental health supports, living wages, schools, sustainability, and the politics of wellbeing. Episode covers 2026-07-06 – 2026-07-13. Top papers What's good in the neighbourhood? Examining the wellbeing impacts of urban regeneration using administrative data Designing, implementing and evaluating an evidence-based and trauma-informed mental health service integrated with a gynaecology service: a research protocol Use of data linkage and LEO data in the evaluation of the Basic Income Pilot in Wales Prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among older adults during COVID-19 lockdowns: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Impact of School-Based Interventions on Adolescents’ Digital Use and Mental Wellbeing: A Systematic Review and Arm-Based Random-Effects Meta-Analysis Themes: mental health, public health, COVID-19, work-life balance, anxiety, older adults, adolescents, social prescribing Methods: qualitative, survey, case-study, quantitative, cross-sectional, thematic analysis Premium News Premium also covers 10 related news stories, including news.gallup.com — Wellbeing, news.fundsforngos.org — WHO Europe Study Reveals Major Gaps in Mental Health Monitoring Across the European Region - fundsforNGOs News, and news.gallup.com — Social and Policy Issues | Gallup Topic. Upgrade to Premium The premium version of this podcast covers all 40 research articles and 10 news stories selected for the episode. Subscribe to the premium podcast. Generated by paperboy.fm.

    Green Space + Urban Regeneration: Can Places Improve Wellbeing?

  7. Jul 6

    R U OK? Day + Early-Years Costs: When Wellbeing Gets Specific

    From Australia’s R U OK? Day to UK early-years microsimulation, the episode asks what policy can do when wellbeing is measured, delivered, and tested in detail. Covers 2026-06-29 to 2026-07-06; 5 free papers from 40 selected papers. Good policy should show up in better lives. What's Well & Good in Policy follows the research testing that promise, from universal basic income and health insurance to mental health supports, living wages, schools, sustainability, and the politics of wellbeing. Episode covers 2026-06-29 – 2026-07-06. Top papers Comparative social costs of six early years disadvantages: a birth cohort microsimulation study. EXPRESS: Are You Okay? Effects of a National Peer-Support Campaign on Mental Health Social Protection Policy and Poverty Reduction: Evaluating Welfare Programs for Marginalized Communities Receipt of Paid Family Leave and Intimate Partner Violence for Women Employed During the Perinatal Period. Rethinking wellbeing measurement: learning from a scale development study with adolescents living with HIV in Zimbabwe Themes: mental health, public health, wellbeing, well-being, adolescents, resilience, social welfare, sustainable development Methods: qualitative, survey, quantitative, scoping review, case-study, literature review Premium News Premium also covers 10 related news stories, including who.int — New study reveals gaps in how mental health is measured in ..., youtube.com — What India's biggest health survey reveals and what it leaves out, and outlookmoney.com — Health Awareness Is Up, But India’s Wellbeing Gap Is Widening - Outlook Money. Upgrade to Premium The premium version of this podcast covers all 40 research articles and 10 news stories selected for the episode. Subscribe to the premium podcast. Generated by paperboy.fm.

    R U OK? Day + Early-Years Costs: When Wellbeing Gets Specific

  8. Jun 29

    Do wellbeing systems fail on fit? Plus: NHS CHECK and Grenfell

    Across 116 qualified papers, the clearest thread is that wellbeing policy works when support matches the setting, affected people, and delivery system. Covers 2026-06-22 to 2026-06-29; 5 free papers from 40 selected papers. Good policy should show up in better lives. What's Well & Good in Policy follows the research testing that promise, from universal basic income and health insurance to mental health supports, living wages, schools, sustainability, and the politics of wellbeing. Episode covers 2026-06-22 – 2026-06-29. Top papers All that matters is personal development: A conservation of resources perspective on the well-being of cross-border migrant Hong Kong and Macao youth in Mainland China. The effects of forest resource capitalization on farm household wellbeing Providing Mental Health and Substance Use Services to People Released From Custody During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study of Service Providers. Can Care Service and ALMP Reduce Female Migrant Penalty in the Labour Market? A Multilevel Analysis of 16 Western European Countries Mental health of healthcare workers in England during the first three years of the COVID-19 pandemic: The NHS CHECK study cohort. Themes: mental health, public health, COVID-19, work-life balance, resilience, employee well-being, sustainability, wellbeing Methods: qualitative, survey, case-study, quantitative, longitudinal, systematic review Premium News Premium also covers 10 related news stories, including kff.org — KFF - The independent source for health policy research, polling ..., news.gallup.com — USA | Gallup Topic, and ground.news — Mexico Launches National Mental Health Strategy for Young ... Upgrade to Premium The premium version of this podcast covers all 40 research articles and 10 news stories selected for the episode. Subscribe to the premium podcast. Generated by paperboy.fm.

    Do wellbeing systems fail on fit? Plus: NHS CHECK and Grenfell
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Good policy should show up in better lives. What's Well & Good in Policy follows the research testing that promise, from universal basic income and health insurance to mental health supports, living wages, schools, sustainability, and the politics of wellbeing. Subscribe for the premium version of this podcast: https://paperboy.fm/podcasts/public-policy-health-and-welfare/subscribe

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