Resilience factors can offset the impact of adversity

We now know that there are SPECIFIC factors and Positive Childhood Experiences which can improve adult mental health and offset the long term impact of childhood adversity. Yet families facing adversity often have trouble accessing the very things they need to foster resilience.  The 7 studied Positive Childhood Experiences (Bethell et al) are:

1. Feeling like you were able to talk about your feelings with your family

2. Feeling like your family supported you during hard times

3. Feeling like at least one adult in the home protected you and kept you safe

4. Enjoying community traditions

5. Having 2 non-parent adults who genuinely took an interest in you

6. Feeling supported by friends

7. Feeling a sense of belonging in high school

The first three are more related to the internal family functioning and the last four are about the community you live in. How many of these did you have? How can you pay it forward and help children access more of these? 

My passion is to help families understand these factors and to work within the existing system of primary care to help identify and overcome obstacles so more children can access more positive and protective factors.