ACEs > Resilience framework

Resilience framework

Mental wellbeing

Mental wellbeing is all about feeling good and functioning well. We all have mental health and can do simple things to look after it. Did you know that around 40% of our mental wellbeing is down to the choices that we make and the actions we take?

All of us face difficulties at some time in our lives, whether this is from learning a new skill, facing a new situation, dealing with conflict, experiencing a loss or disappointment. However, some people have more than their fair share of challenges whether that is through disability, bullying, abuse, poverty, or tragic circumstances.

Resilience:

According to research one of the key factors that determine your ability to deal with adversity, is how you bounce back from things when they are tough (resilience).

Resilience is important because it;

  • Helps you to try new things.
  • Encourages you to take on challenges.
  • Keeps you going when things get tough.
  • Keeps your dreams alive.
  • Helps you to deal with failure and frustration.
  • Give you the strength to get up and try again.
  • Give you a ‘WHY’ to keep going for.

One way to think of resilience is asking yourself ‘when I go through difficult times am I able to bounce back, or do I struggle to pick myself up and keep going?”

5 key factors

Social enterprise  Boing Boing, through research originating from Professor Angie Hart, (visit the Boingboing website www.boingboing.org.uk ) identify 5 key factors that have a huge influence on how resilient a person will be. They are:

  • Basic needs: I have enough money, a nice place to live, a good diet, time to relax, and getting enough exercise.
  • Belonging: I recognise strong and healthy relationships, that I belong, that I am needed, I can make and keep friends.
  • Learning: Through engaging well with my school or college courses, being organised and achieving my goals.
  • Coping: Learning from my mistakes, not being too critical of myself and helping myself through problems solving
  • Core self: I can understand the feelings of others, understanding what I am good at and being hopeful about the future.