Article:

Good Mental Health Messages: BEING RESILIENT

What is Resilience?

Resilience can be thought of as our ability to bounce back from change, challenges and the difficulties life presents.

What makes young people resilient?

The many studies on this both in Australia and overseas talk about the importance of a sense of belonging. Being connected to family, school, peers and community helps protect young people against emotional distress, suicidal thoughts and actions, violent acts and other risk taking behaviours such as drug and alcohol abuse. Feeling as though your life has meaning and purpose also assists.

What can we do to encourage the development of Resilience?

Some examples are to give young people opportunities to contribute meaningfully and to experience success and for communities and individuals to acknowledge this success. We also need to recognise that each young person is different and valuable. While feeling loved and respected by the family is very important, the research also shows that having a positive relationship with someone who believes in you outside the family is also protective. Schools, community clubs and sporting organisations are great environments to potentially provide these factors.

Some helpful Ideas

At Home:

Develop and maintain family rituals e.g. eating meals together regularly, going to the footy together, celebrating important events such as birthdays, attending school events.

Set limits by establishing family rules that are consistent and caring.

Recognise individual accomplishments e.g by using words of encouragement and praise, displaying project work at home.

In Community Groups and Schools:

• Develop a culture that promotes a sense of belonging or fitting in for everyone.
• Offer a range of opportunities for success with academic, sport and leisure activities and having ways of recognising this for each student.
• Provide specific programs to foster resilience.

If we foster resilience in young people they will be more able to learn and achieve their goals in life.

Resources

Although these resources do not specifically relate to this article, they are very useful phone numbers/websites to contact for further information.

	Parent Line	13 22 89	www.vicparenting.com.au
	Kids Helpline	1800 55 1800	www.kidshelp.com.au
	Inspire Foundation		www.reachout.com.au

* Developed by the Primary Prevention In Schools Committee 2004.
For further information contact the Mental Health Promotions Officer, Ballarat Health Services – CAMHS (03) 53203030