This video is my personal statement.
I am Herman Badenhorst, sixty-seven years old.
I have something important to say.
I started my working life as a computer programmer.
In the days when a computer filled a whole house.
And, yes, I did know how to operate a card punch machine.
I studied and applied myself, rising through the ranks into senior management.
More than ten years ago, I had a heart attack. It’s impact on me was severe. I no longer had the energy to work at the pace I used to work at. My energy levels were low. I sank into unmanageable depression. A person often asks why you have to have these life experiences? I definitely had some new experiences. These experiences had a profound influence on my understanding of life.
I met Psychiatrists and Psychologists who helped me find a way out of the depression. Firstly, I was one of the privileged. I had good jobs. I earnt good money. I could pick and choose the health professionals that I engaged with.
My contemplation soon led to some serious thinking. What about the less fortunate people out there? How do they get treated?
I did some research. It appears that there is little available for the average person in the mainstream. Those with severe mental illness stand a chance of getting treatment. Private psychologists are mostly fully subscribed, not taking on new clients. Practitioners in private practice are too expensive for the average person.
I read more and more about this dilemma.
The World Health Organization states that there has been a 25% increase in the demand for mental health services world-wide since the pandemic.
The English National Health Service reports that the demand is now continuing to be fuelled by the cost-of-living crisis. A similar situation exists world-wide.
The American Psychological Association reports that the need for psychology services is outstripping the supply. Psychologists worry that patients from marginalized populations, particularly people of colour, will suffer most amid a worsening workforce shortage.
A few years ago, I was doing some consulting work at an organization that specialized in positive psychology interventions in the workplace. Through my work, I was introduced to the burgeoning field of Positive Psychology. Positive Psychology moves away from the disease-based model of psychology and asks the questions:
How does a person flourish?
How do you become the best version of yourself?
I have widely read all the literature and research on Positive Psychology interventions that I can lay my hands on. I have read all the notable authors on the subject. The world of Positive Psychology has moved from a self-help fad to become a credible science. I am a convert.
My training and education have been in the field of Applied Information Systems. Taking the science of computers from the back room and into the mainstream. To solve real-world problems through the application of computer technology.
One of my specialities was a subject called Business Process Re-engineering. That basically means to analyse business processes, simplify them and speed them up.
I worked a lot in Africa where the standard of education and computer literacy was and is still abysmal. My work was successful. I have many case studies, where through clever process design, procedural design and management of the man-machine interface, workers became empowered.
To be able to do a job with a minimum of education and do the job well. To the upliftment of themselves, their community and to the benefit of the organisation they work for. I have always been people-focussed, developing human potential and building high-performance teams.
I have watched with interest the emergence of Internet-enabled psychological interventions. A number of these already exist. Some more successful than others.
Also, the emergence of Artificial Intelligence and its application in the psychotherapeutic space.
I have formally studied at Auckland University. The Graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology. After hours, I pursue my passion. I read about Positive Psychology, the science-based interventions and spend a lot of time on the Internet, searching to get up-to-date information regarding the field of Applied Positive Psychology.
My interest has led me to complete undergraduate certificates and diplomas in fields related to my interests. Topics such as Counselling, Applied Psychology, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Applied Positive Psychology and Happiness coaching.
My aim has been to take the years of study I have already done and combine these to deliver Positive Psychology interventions on-line in a cost effective manner.
I have surrounded myself with a team of like-minded professionals who will help bring this vision to fuition.
Please visit our website at Make Me Happy.
If you would like to contact me on anything related to my personal statement, the vision for the happiness program or any other matter, please email me at:
herman at makemehappy dot ai
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