THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RESILIENCE AND MENTAL HEALTH

Analyn A. Caballero

Having solid mental health doesn’t mean that you never go through bad times or experience emotional problems.

We all go through disappointments, loss, and change. And while these are normal parts of life, they can still cause sadness, anxiety, and stress. But just as physically healthy people are better able to bounce back from illness or injury, people with strong mental health are better able to bounce back from adversity, trauma, and stress. This ability is called resilience.

People who are emotionally and mentally resilient have the tools for coping with difficult situations and maintaining a positive outlook.

They remain focused, flexible, and productive, in bad times as well as good.

Their resilience also makes them less afraid of new experiences or an uncertain future. Even when they don’t immediately know how a problem will get resolved, they are hopeful that a solution will eventually be found.

No matter how much time you devote to improving your mental and emotional health, you will still need the company of others to feel and function at your best.

Humans are social creatures with emotional needs for relationships and positive connections to others. We’re not meant to survive, let alone thrive, in isolation.

Our social brains crave companionship— even when experience has made us shy and distrustful of others.

Phone calls and social networks have their place, but nothing can beat the stress-busting, mood-boosting power of quality face-to-face time with other people.

The key is to interact with someone who is a “good listener”— someone you can regularly talk to in person, who will listen to you without their own conceptions of how you should think or feel. A good listener will listen to the feelings behind your words, and won’t interrupt, judge, or criticize you.

Reaching out is not a sign of weakness and it won’t make you a burden to others. Most people are flattered if you trust them enough to confide in them. If you don’t feel that you have anyone to turn to, there are good ways to build new friendships and improve your support network.

In the meantime, there is still a great benefit to interacting face-to-face with acquaintances or people you encounter during the day, such as neighbors, people in the checkout line or on the bus, or the person serving you your morning coffee. Make eye contact and exchange a smile, a friendly greeting, or small talk.

Understanding and accepting your emotions— especially those unpleasant ones many of us try to ignore— can make a huge difference in your ability to manage stress and balance your moods.

School connectedness is a significant protective factor for wellbeing and has been associated with positive mental health and academic outcomes.

Adopting a resilience mindset is important to promoting wellbeing during uncertainty.

This can be fostered by reaching out to people, asking if they are okay (connected), providing safe places to discuss ideas and feelings (protected) and acknowledging that people react and cope differently