The Importance of Resiliency
Resiliency is the key to helping people cope with adversity, by allowing them to adapt, recover, and continue to grow even during difficult times.
It is the ability to bounce back from adversity. It is shaped by our relationships with others, life experiences, environments, and genetics.
While childhood is an important time to build resiliency, it can be strengthened at any stage of life. Being resilient does not mean that a person will never feel stressed or face difficult times. People who have lived through adversity may still carry emotional pain and stress. For this reason, building resiliency takes time and can sometimes bring up difficult feelings along the way. To help build your resilience visit the American Psychological Association webpage for tips and strategies.
Building Resiliency Through Protective Factors
Protective factors are qualities or supports that can help reduce the chance of children experiencing adverse childhood experiences. Supportive and caring relationships, strong connections with family, friends, community, and culture, access to positive resources, and strong life skills can help to lessen the harmful effects of trauma, and support children in building resiliency. Some examples of protective factors can include:
- Strong stable relationships with caring adults (e.g., neighbours, coaches, and teachers).
- Safe and predictable environments where children know what to expect and feel secure.
- Access to mental health supports.
- Stress management skills to help cope with difficult emotions and situations (e.g., mindfulness activities, exercise).
- Support to develop healthy coping skills.
- Strong cultural identity where children feel a sense of pride in who they are.
- Safe and connected communities.
- Positive role models and mentors who can guide and support children.
- Positive school environments that support learning, belonging, and well-being.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
My Future Could Have Looked Another Way Video
- American Psychological Association (2020). Building your resilience. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience/building-your-resilience
- Community Resilience Coalition of Guelph and Wellington (n.d.) Resilience makes us stronger. Retrieved from https://communityresilience.ca/what-is-resilience/
- Dawdy, J., Dunford, K. and Magalhaes Boateng, K. (2025). Ontario early adversity and resilience framework. Public Health Ontario Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resilience Community of Practice