This is a typically ambitious project for Foresight. For a start, no other country, besides Bhutan, has ever considered the mental resource of its citizens in this way.

The audience for Foresight’s science futures work is usually government policymakers, but this project has advice for individuals too, including its “five-a-day” for mental wellbeing. They might sound like pure Pollyanna; but they are based on evidence in a paper commissioned by Foresight from the New Economics Foundation.

“Connect with the people around you” reflects compelling evidence of the importance of social interaction. Surveys show that the most significant difference between individuals with mental ill-health and those without it is social participation.

“Be active” is another recommendation with a compelling evidence base. For children, action is essential for thinking and learning. Studies of large groups of individuals born at the same time show that physical activity protects against cognitive decline and against depression and anxiety. Even bouts of exercise of less than ten minutes can make a difference.

“Take notice” is about being aware of sensations around you and of your own thoughts and feelings. Being in this state of “mindfulness” promotes mental wellbeing.

Being aware of what takes place in the present can help to reinstate life priorities, an important consideration for those who have been buffeted by ill-fortune. Think of it as a way of rebooting the mind through joy in the here and now.

“Keep learning” is also strongly backed by evidence. Statistical analysis of group studies shows that learning, almost without regard to subject, is the single greatest predictor of mental wellbeing. It impacts on one’s self-esteem, resilience and sense of purpose. “Give” is perhaps the most surprising of the five-a-day. In one experiment, committing an act of kindness each day for six weeks was associated with an increase in wellbeing.

Increasingly, the Government listens to Foresight. Its recommendations on obesity were included in policy within six months. It will be interesting to see whether Gordon Brown will do the same with this report.

Vivienne Parry is a broadcaster and writer on scientific matters