Building Resilience

Throughout the Life Span

Paula Barrett

Pathways Health and Research Centre, Brisbane

University of Queensland, School of Education

Acknowledgements

• All children, families and

professionals in Australia and

worldwide using the Friends

Programs in schools and clinics

• My family

• Pathways staff

“The very motion of

our lives is towards

happiness” - Dalai Lama

Has history shown progress

towards human happiness?

Citizens of affluent countries have

physically healthier, longer life spans

but receive much less social support

from friendships and extended families.

Do these citizens have psychologically

healthier lives?

WHAT WE KNOW:

-Prevalence

-Who seeks help

-Need for prevention

-Human Capital Investment

Obesity /early onset type II diabetes and

anxiety/depressive disorders will be

more prevalent in western countries

than any other health problem by 2020. (World Health Organisation conference, 2006, 2007,

2008, 2009)

We can feel empowered by learning

RESILIENCE skills which are EASY to

implement at home, school, communities –

across the life span.

RESILIENCE IS THE ABILITY TO BOUNCE BACK IN THE FACE OF

ADVERSITY.

What we can feel

We can feel empowered by learning

RESILIENCE skills which are EASY to

implement at home, school, communities –

across the life span.

We can not always build a secure future

but we can build ourselves and our

children strong for the future.

Risk and Protective Factors

for Human Development Risk Factors:

• Temperament Physiological sensitivity – low thresholds for stress

• Neurological/brain development

• Attention Biases

• Life Events traumas

Protective Factors:

• Attachment

• Cognitive style

• Family

• Sleep/Diet/Exercise

• Evidence based prevention programs

Family- Communities

Citizenship

Emotional Development

Exercise, Diet,

Sleep

What we need to do

PARADIGM CHANGES

LIFE LONG RESILEINCE

Thank you! For further information please contact

Kathleen

training@pathwayshrc.com.au

www.pathwayshrc.com.au