Resilience

There may be times or situations in everyone’s lives that are more difficult than others. The ability to stay mentally well during those times is what we call ‘resilience’. Resilience is not simply a person’s ability to ‘bounce back’ from a tough time but their ability to adapt in the face of challenging situations, whilst maintaining positive mental health and wellbeing. Resilience is a form of self-help; the person is helping their self to be better, more positive and happier.


Video: What Does Resilience Mean To Young People? | YoungMinds

More information about resilience

Resilience is something that can change over time and you have the power to change it. Resilience can be taught and learned, and the things that build resilience can be introduced into your everyday life now.

There are three parts to resilience:

  1. Mental wellbeing describes our mental state. This is how you are feeling and how well you can cope with day-to-day life. Your emotional wellbeing can change, from day to day, month to month or year to year.

  2. Next is social connections. Connecting with other people isn’t always easy and many children and young people can sometimes feel isolated or struggle with relationships. Lots of children and young people feel like this and making friends can help you to overcome this.

  3. Lastly are ways to cope. There are many ways to cope and get support, such as self-help or speaking to your family and/or friends or to specialists like doctors.

Support resources

  • CAMHS Resources - This site was created for young people, carers and professionals to pool together lots of helpful resources from across the internet that are available to help support mental health and well-being.

  • TalkZone – LCC - Young people aged from 12 to 19 years (up to age 25 with SEND) can access this support by telephone, text, webtalk, email or Facebook from 2pm - 10pm.

  • Lancashire Youth Challenge - A charity which enables young people to build confidence and resilience via an exciting year-round programme of physical activities, and creative and cultural projects. Available in North Lancashire area.

  • Youth Zone - Advice and support for children and young people.

  • Achieve Change and Engagement (A.C.E.) - Resources to help improve emotional health and wellbeing.

  • Public Health 5-19 Cumbria County Council - Service is aimed at lifestyle improvement, through maintaining and promoting mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. Key priorities include healthy weight, emotional health, digital wellbeing and risk-taking behaviour.

  • 5 Steps to Mental Wellbeing - Five steps to wellbeing is an evidence-based approach to improving mental wellbeing.

  • Get Self Help - This website provides CBT self-help and therapy resources, including worksheets and information sheets and self-help mp3s.

  • Resilience and Self Help guide - Advice around steps you can take to be more resilient and promote self-care.

  • NHS Northumberland, Tyne & Wear - Self-help leaflets.

  • Headspace is a personal guide to health and happiness. Designed to help you focus, breathe, stay calm, perform at your best, and get a better night’s rest through the life-changing skills of relaxation, meditation and mindfulness.

  • Calm is an app for meditation and sleep. Designed to help lower stress, lessen anxiety, and assist in a more restful sleep with guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing techniques, masterclasses and relaxing music.

  • Calm Kids, Connected Parents gives you resources on all kinds of parenting dilemmas at your fingertips — including inspirational messages, audio tracks, videos and articles to help you create a calmer, happier home. Apple store | Google Play store

  • Smiling Mind is a web and app-based program developed by psychologists and educators to help bring balance to people’s lives.

  • Insight Timer offer guided meditations and talks led by the world's top meditation and mindfulness experts, neuroscientists, psychologists and teachers from Stanford, Harvard, the University of Oxford and more.

  • Moodometer is an interactive mood diary for monitoring and understanding emotional wellbeing.

  • Feely an app to track your feelings and receive scientific exercises and work on activities that help you feel happier.

  • Moods: Mental Health Tracking with an easy fast traffic light colour system to track moods.

  • Chill Panda is an app designed to help with anxiety, managing worries and improving wellbeing for primary school-aged children.


Visit the Young Minds website

Young Minds are a UK charity fighting for children and young people's mental health.

The Young Minds website has lots of really useful information about young people's mental health. Watch videos of real life stories, read blog posts from young people, learn more about mental health and find resources and support.

Explore the Young Minds take time out webpage (opens in new window).

Young Minds logo

Further information

Much of the content on this website has been put together using resources sourced from a range of different charities and organisations.

Click on the logos below to go to each organisations website to explore more about mental health. 

Kooth logo Youth Access logo
Togetherall logo Mind logo
Childline logo Papyrus logo
The Mix logo Samaritans logo

Accessibility tools

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