Introducing Resilience

Workbook instruction: Please refer to pages 29 to 31 of the workbook for this sprint.

Before we formally introduce you to the concept of resilience, people have views about what this term means to them. Write your reflections below. 

Dr Michael Ungar: What is Resilience? 

(Keynote Speakers Canada, 2017, on YouTube) 

Dr Michael Ungar is a key thinker in the area of resilience. Watch him briefly outline what resilience is and see if this resonates with your view of resilience. 

Why Focus on Resilience? 

Traditionally, research has focused on what puts people at risk of poor mental health – things like trauma, substance misuse, or emotional burnout. While this has helped shape support systems and treatments, it doesn’t always capture the full picture. It often overlooks the fact that many people are able to adapt, grow, and even become stronger after facing hardship. 

More recent research suggests that focusing on people’s strengths—rather than just their struggles—can be even more helpful in promoting wellbeing (Brooks et al., 2024). Just like repeated exposure to stress can increase the risk of negative outcomes, having more protective or positive factors in your life can help you thrive, even in tough times (Hamby et al., 2021). This is especially important for people in helping professions, where building resilience can make a real difference in how they cope and support others. 

Trauma is Everywhere, but so is Resilience 

TEDx Talk by Sherry Hamby, University of the South 

Watch Sherry Hamby outline how the burden of stress and trauma and provide us with remarkable insights about resilience. 

Resilience: More Than Just a Trait 

At first glance, resilience might seem like a simple idea. For a long time, it was thought of as a personal trait – something you either had or didn’t have. This view suggested that resilient people could bounce back to how they were before a crisis, and it was often measured using short questionnaires (Smith et al., 2008; Connor & Davidson, 2003). But this view is now seen as too simplistic. It treats resilience as something fixed and unchangeable, which can be unhelpful especially if we want to support people who are struggling. If resilience can’t be developed, how can we help people build it? 

Today, resilience is understood as a dynamic process – something that can grow and change over time. It’s not just about the individual, but also about their relationships, environment, and support systems. These are captured in different psychological models of resilience, although they generally share these characteristics. 

The model is based on several similar models of resilience. Breaking down this model in a little model detail: 

• Individual-level resilience includes a person’s coping strategies and self-esteem. 

• Relational-level resilience refers to supports from relationships around us, including our family, friends, and colleagues. 

• Community-level resilience is made up of resources in our communities, including safe workplaces, access to services, and cohesion in the neighbourhood. 

• Societal-level resilience captures social norms, healthcare and education systems in wider society that support wellbeing. 

• Environmental-level resilience considers the role of the natural and built environment, including green spaces and urban design. 

This shift in thinking moves us away from the idea that “you are either resilience or you are not,” and toward the question: “How can we help people build resilience?” This view sees resilience as something that can be nurtured and strengthened. It’s influenced by many factors, and it can look different for everyone. We’ll explore this idea more deeply in Module Five. 

Most People are Resilient 

One important point that’s often overlooked is that most people actually do show resilience after going through difficult experiences (Hamby & Yoon, 2024; Seery et al., 2010). This doesn’t mean their struggles aren’t real or painful. But it does mean that many people find ways to adapt and recover. 

When we talk about resilience in helping professions, we’re not ignoring the challenges or emotional toll of the work. Instead, we’re offering a more balanced view – one that recognises both the difficulties and the strengths people bring to their roles. By focusing on resilience and taking a strengths-based approach, we can better understand what helps people stay well and support others effectively.