Resiliency

What is Resiliency?

Resiliency is the capacity to rise above difficult circumstances,

allowing us and the people around us to move forward with optimism and confidence

Why is it important to learn?

What we need to know:

What to do when faced with inevitable difficulties

How to bounce back from adversity

How we can help those we care about bounce back

Understanding

Stress

Response

Stress is the way your brain and body lets you

know you have a challenge or problem that

needs to be addressed

Stress is the signal that causes us to adapt and

become more resilient

Toxic Stress

Stress that can be harmful, especially ones that are out of our control

and experienced for a prolonged period of time:

Neglect

Violence

Poverty

Abuse

Should all stress be avoided?

Most stress that we experience daily is good for us and avoiding it

could be harmful

You don’t learn skills you need to take on challenges

Overtime, can lead to feeling constantly “stressed out”

Traded long-term resilience for short-term relief

Every time you encounter a stressful situation and you successfully

cope with that situation; you are becoming more resilient

Learning to cope with challenges

developing skills you can use in the future

The 7 C’s: Essential Building Blocks of Resilience among children & youth

Competence

Confidence

Connection

Character

Contribution

Coping

Control

Competence

The ability or know-

how to handle situations effectively

Acquired through

experience

Developed through

skills that allows

people to trust their

judgement

Confidence

Belief in one’s own

abilities

Gained by

demonstrating

competence in real

situations

Connection

Close ties to family, friends, school, and community = solid sense of security

Produces strong values

Prevents from seeking destructive alternatives

Character

A fundamental sense of right and wrong to ensure they are

prepared to:

Make wise & informed decisions

Contribute to the world

Become stable adults

Contribution

Understanding the importance of personal

contribution can lead to a sense of

purpose

The feeling of belonging can motivate you

to take actions to improve the world,

bringing gratitude and satisfaction to others

Coping

Coping strategies include:

Physical activity Healthy eating Adequate sleep

Children who Learn to cope effectively with stress are better prepared to overcome life’s challenges

Control

When children realize they control the outcomes of their decisions

and actions, they’re more likely to know that they have the resiliency to bounce back.

Perceiving control as external can lead to children becoming

Passive

Pessimistic

Depressed

Things you can do to manage

stress

1) Make you own stress balls with balloons and rice

2) Colour mandala colouring pages

3) Download and use a breathing app

4) Play with tangles

5) Listen to music

PHE Canada (2017)

Tips for managing stress

during Covid-19 Setting up a daily routine

Keep bedtime and morning wake up similar to school days

Consistency is key

Schedule virtual communication with friends & family

Self care

Shower

Reading a book

Yoga

Physical activity

Go outside when possible while keeping social distancing

(Teenmentalhealth.org, 2020)

Other Useful

Resources for

Covid-19

References

Ginsburg, K.(n.d). Fostering Resiliency. Retrieved from http://www.fosteringresilience.com/professionals/7cs_professionals.php

PHE Canada (2017. Stress busters. Retrieved from https://phecanada.ca/programs/teach-resiliency/resources/stress-busters

Teen mental health (2020), Stress from transitions: making the most of your campus experience. Retrieved from https://teenmentalhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Stress-Transitions.pdf