What are the best ways to promote resilience in individuals and groups affected by traumatic events?

2 Seek support

The second step to promoting resilience is to seek and offer support to those who have experienced trauma. Support can come from various sources, such as family, friends, colleagues, community members, professionals, or organizations. Support can provide emotional, practical, informational, or spiritual assistance, depending on the needs and preferences of the person. Support can help reduce isolation, loneliness, stigma, and shame. Support can also enhance coping skills, self-esteem, confidence, and hope. Support can be formal or informal, individual or group-based, online or offline, depending on the availability and accessibility of the resources.

3 Practice self-care

The third step to promoting resilience is to practice self-care, which means taking care of one's physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. Self-care can involve various activities, such as eating well, exercising, sleeping, relaxing, meditating, journaling, expressing emotions, pursuing hobbies, setting boundaries, and saying no. Self-care can help restore balance, energy, and vitality. Self-care can also help prevent or reduce the risk of burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary trauma. Self-care can be tailored to one's needs, preferences, and circumstances, and it can be done regularly or as needed.

4 Learn coping skills

The fourth step to promoting resilience is to learn and apply coping skills that can help manage the stress and emotions caused by trauma. Coping skills are strategies that can help reduce the intensity, frequency, or duration of distressing thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. Coping skills can be problem-focused or emotion-focused, depending on the situation and the goal. Problem-focused coping skills aim to change or solve the source of stress, such as planning, organizing, problem-solving, or seeking help. Emotion-focused coping skills aim to regulate or reduce the impact of stress, such as breathing, grounding, distraction, or positive thinking.

5 Find meaning

The fifth step to promoting resilience is to find meaning in the trauma and its aftermath. Finding meaning can involve making sense of what happened, why it happened, and how it affected one's life. Finding meaning can also involve finding purpose, value, or significance in one's actions, goals, or relationships. Finding meaning can help create a coherent narrative, a positive outlook, and a sense of direction. Finding meaning can also help foster growth, gratitude, and altruism. Finding meaning can be facilitated by reflection, storytelling, counseling, or spirituality.

6 Seek professional help

The sixth and final step to promoting resilience is to seek professional help if the trauma or its effects are interfering with one's daily functioning, well-being, or quality of life. Professional help can include therapy, medication, or other interventions that can address the symptoms and consequences of trauma. Professional help can provide a safe, confidential, and supportive environment where one can explore, process, and heal from the trauma. Professional help can also offer evidence-based, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive approaches that can enhance resilience and recovery.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?