resiliency and mental wellness

Resiliency and Mental Wellness



Resilience• the ability to personally or professionally succeed

despite adversity; coping effectively with difficulties that might otherwise lead to anxiety, depression, withdrawal, physical symptoms, or poor achievement

• to rebound, or bounce back in the face of adversity; and to develop competence (social, academic, and vocational) despite exposure to severe stress or the challenges of everyday life


Resilience• Social competence

• Problem solving skills

• Autonomy

• Sense of purpose; optimism


Mental Wellness

The World Health Organization defines mental health as "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization


Mental Wellness

• Focus on strengths, assets, protective buffers

• Develop a supportive, caring, nurturing climate


Community

IndividualPeer


Protective and Risk FactorsProtective Factors:

• buffer against the impact of barriers (risk factors)

• Individual, family, school, and community


Risk Factors:

• Internal and external barriers to development and learning


Community

IndividualPeer


Community

• Opportunity to engage in pro-social activities, or that caring adults are present in their community

• Rewards - youth feel that their postive behaviors are recognized and acknowledged by their community

School

• Opportunity to interact with teachers and participate in school-related activities

• Rewards - youth feel acknowledged by their their teachers and their parents relative to school performance and participation

Family

• Opportunity to participate in family decision making and do fun things with family

• Rewards - parents acknowledge and praise when they do well

• Attachment - youth feel close to and can share openly with parents

PeerIndividual

Resiliency and Mental Wellness1111

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Number of Assets/Strenghs

Perc

ent w

ith N

egat

ive

Beha

vior

s Alcohol (30 days)

Assets/StrengthsGood Grades Involved in extracurricular activities

Involved in decision-making Involved in community service

Lots of adults in my neighborhood to talk to Parents notice when doing a good job


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 1 2 3 4 5 6


Perc

ent w

ith N

egat

ive

Beha

vior

s

Sex (ever)Alcohol (30 days)Cigarettes (30 days)Binge drinking (2 wks)Attacked someone (1 yr)Marijuana use (30 days)Gang member (ever)





0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

0 1 2 3 4 5 6


Perc

ent w

ith N

egat

ive

Beha

vior

s Deppressive symptoms





Protective Factors

Community Rewards for Involvement

Ever in a Gang

General Population

51% 37%

Peer and Individual Social Skills 67% 30%

Used Drugs or Alcohol

46%

40%

Youth feel that their positive behaviors are recognized

by the community

Skills like decision making, conflict resolution, making

good choices


Protective FactorsReporting Symptoms of

DepressionGeneral

Population

I can ask my mom or dad for help 74% 61%

Used Drugs or Alcohol

51%


Other Experiences and Regular Attendance at Religious Activities

23

29

12

21

4

33

17

32

4

33

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Alcohol use DepressiveSymptoms

ConsideredSuicide

Have had Sex GangMembership

Attend Religious Activity Monthly or More Attend Religious Activity Rarely or Never


Fairfax YouthA Gauge of Mental Wellness

Almost all Fairfax County youth report that there are lots of opportunities to get involved in positive activities in and outside of school

Nearly a quarter of Fairfax County youth are physically active for at least 60 minutes every day

Three out of four youth report they can go to their parents for help with a problem

More than two-thirds of Fairfax County youth have not used any drugs or alcohol in the past 30 days


A Gauge of Youth Mental Wellness

104

15

31

0

20

40

60

80

100

Symptoms ofDepression

ConsideredSuicide

AttemptedSuicide

UnhealthyWeight Loss

Behaviors


Males26%

Females35%


Adolescent Girls

• 20% of girls reported that they had considered suicide

• 5% of girls attempted suicide

• 14% of females reported some unhealthy weight loss behavior in the past 30 days


Depression/Considered Suicide by Race/Ethnicity - Countywide

3239 36

2633

0

20

40

60

80

100

AfricanAmerican

Asian/PacificIslander

Hispanic orLatino

Other orMultiple

White

Depressed Considered Suicide

Similar to national trends, races/ethnicities other than White are more likely to report feeling

depressed and considering suicide


Actual Participation in Extracurricular Activities Once a Month or More

53

75

67

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

English at home Spanish at home Other language at home


How can we create opportunities that tap into the resiliency in all of us?

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Everyone’s Got Basic Human Needs


Resiliency Traits in All of Us

• Cooperation• Empathy• Problem-Solving• Self-Efficacy• Self-Awareness• Goals, Dreams, Hopes

We learn and develop through experience using these traits.


Resiliency: We are who we are BECAUSE of not in spite of


The Biggie: Locus of Control

• Do you control your destiny or are you controlled by it?

• Is it what you do or events that happen to you that alter your life path?

• Is it about being at the right place at the right time?

NOTE: Internal LOC can be learned through experiences. Balance is key- You need the other traits to keep the balance


Resiliency Ponderings: How can we insert opportunities to use resiliency traits in all

domains?Communi

ty

IndividualPeer


When compared to youth who do NOT report depressive symptoms, youth who report depressive symptoms are:

• More likely to have used drugs and alcohol

• More likely to have skipped school

• Twice as likely to report binge drinking

• Seven times more likely to report considering suicide

• Twice as likely to have first had sex before the age of 12

• Twice as likely to have been in a fight

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