Skip to main content

Search Wellbeing

Cancel
Home

Top Navigation

  • Our Partners
  • Contact
  • About Us

Help Phone Lines

If you are in need of immediate help, call 9-1-1.

Crisis Line

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Call if you are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including thoughts of suicide.

310 Mental Health Support

310-6789 (NO AREA CODE)

Call for emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health.

KUU-US Crisis Response Service

1-800-588-8717

Call for culturally-aware crisis support for Indigenous peoples in B.C.

Wellbeing

Main navigation

  • Wellbeing
    • Healthy Living
      • Eating Well
      • Staying Active
      • Sleep Habits
      • Mindfulness
    • Emotional
      • Resilience
      • Self-Esteem
      • Loneliness
    • Social
      • Stigma
      • Family
    Image
    Woman outside looking off to the right

    What is Mindfulness?

    You can use mindfulness every day. It’s a tool you can use at any time. It helps you slow down, accept things as they are, cope well with problems, and simply appreciate what’s in your life right now.

    Learn more
  • Mental health
    • Anxiety
      • What to Do About Anxiety
      • Panic Attacks
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Depression
      • Symptoms of Depression
      • What to Do About Depression
    • Stress
      • Symptoms of Stress
      • Managing Stress
    • Seeking Help
      • Families Supporting Youth
      • Youth Supporting Themselves
    • Self-Harm
    • Suicide
    Image
    Man sits on couch, looking at smart phone

    Getting Help for Depression

    At first, you may find depression hard to notice in yourself or someone else. Learn what you can do if you are experiencing depression.

    Learn more
  • Substance use
    • Types of Substance Use
      • Alcohol
      • Opioids
      • Stimulants
    • Addiction
      • Addiction and Health
      • Treatment and Recovery
    • Harm Reduction
      • Overdose Prevention
      • Naloxone
      • Drug Checking
    Image
    two men stand together outside

    StopOverdose BC

    The stigma around addiction makes it harder to ask for help. Make the connection. Have the conversation. Stop the stigma.

    Learn more

Main navigation

  • Wellbeing
    • Healthy Living
      • Eating Well
      • Staying Active
      • Sleep Habits
      • Mindfulness
    • Emotional
      • Resilience
      • Self-Esteem
      • Loneliness
    • Social
      • Stigma
      • Family
    Image
    Woman outside looking off to the right

    What is Mindfulness?

    You can use mindfulness every day. It’s a tool you can use at any time. It helps you slow down, accept things as they are, cope well with problems, and simply appreciate what’s in your life right now.

    Learn more
  • Mental health
    • Anxiety
      • What to Do About Anxiety
      • Panic Attacks
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Depression
      • Symptoms of Depression
      • What to Do About Depression
    • Stress
      • Symptoms of Stress
      • Managing Stress
    • Self-Harm
    • Suicide
    • Seeking Help
      • Families Supporting Youth
      • Youth Supporting Themselves
    Image
    Man sits on couch, looking at smart phone

    Getting Help for Depression

    At first, you may find depression hard to notice in yourself or someone else. Learn what you can do if you are experiencing depression.

    Learn more
  • Substance use
    • Types of Substance Use
      • Alcohol
      • Opioids
      • Stimulants
    • Addiction
      • Addiction and Health
      • Treatment and Recovery
    • Harm Reduction
      • Overdose Prevention
      • Naloxone
      • Drug Checking
    Image
    two men stand together outside

    StopOverdose BC

    The stigma around addiction makes it harder to ask for help. Make the connection. Have the conversation. Stop the stigma.

    Learn more

Top Navigation

  • Our Partners
  • Contact
  • About Us
Wellbeing

Resilience

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Wellbeing
  3. Emotional
  4. Resilience

Wellbeing

  • Healthy Living
    • Eating Well
    • Staying Active
    • Sleep Habits
    • Mindfulness
  • Emotional
    • Resilience
    • Self-Esteem
    • Loneliness
  • Social
    • Stigma
    • Family

Everyone has resilience. And everyone can become more resilient. 

It doesn’t matter how old you are or what phase of life you’re in, there are ways to grow your inner strength.

What is resilience?

When life has challenges, resilience is your ability to recover from difficulties that you face. It’s the inner strength you use to overcome tough situations, adapt to changes outside of your control, and keep thriving. Being resilient doesn't mean it’s easy to face hard situations or that you won't feel angry, sad, or worried. But it does mean that you may feel like you can cope and respond to the situation(s) in spite of barriers.

Many things can shape your resilience:

  • Family and home life
  • Who you are as an individual, how you think about yourself and your self-esteem
  • Overall wellbeing, mental health and physical health
  • The town or city you live in, social and community connections
  • Education and employment
  • Availability of services and supports

Building resilience

You may want help from a counsellor or program like BounceBack. Or, you can start building resilience on your own.

There are practices you can do every day that don’t take much time:

  • Positive thinking. Try to find the positives in your situation, if you can. Ask yourself, what can I learn from this? Look to the future and expect that things will work out. You can't change what happens, but sometimes looking at a situation from a different perspective can change how you feel about it.
  • Connection. Build a support network; friends, family and other social connections can strengthen resiliency. Join a sports team, get involved in the arts or volunteer. Build relationships with people who make you feel good. Be there for them when they need help, and don't be afraid to let them help you.
  • Self-care. Eat well, have fun, get enough sleep, and exercise. Do things that you enjoy. See a movie. Have a good meal. Laugh with your friends. Relax your mind and body through mindfulness. Make a routine; the consistency of routine can help you feel more relaxed, organized, and able to face the day.
  • Perspective. Remember that things will change, and that you have made it through difficult times before. Be thankful for the good things. Try to see the funny side, if there is one. Look at change as a positive challenge rather than a threat. Take a look at how and why you feel the way you do when things change.
  • Goal setting. Taking on new experiences and getting out of your comfort zone to accomplish goals builds resiliency. List the things you've achieved in your life or those that make you proud. Use problem solving to manage stress.

Resources

Showing 4 Resources

BounceBack™

Support for low mood, depression, anxiety, stress, or worry. Talk to a trained coach on the phone and get resources for free.

Telephone
Learn More

Living Life to the Full

Free, online courses that help you build skills for coping with stress, problem solving and boosting mood.

Virtual
Learn More

Mental Health Check-in

This free, anonymous self-assessment tool helps you understand how you are feeling and reflect on your wellbeing.

Telephone
Learn More

Y Mind Program

Youth and adults can sign up for free online programs that help with stress, worry and anxiety.

Virtual
Learn More

About

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy

Emergency Contact Information

Call 9-1-1 if you are in an emergency. For mental health support, call:

Crisis Line

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Mental Health Support Line

310-6789 (no area code needed)

View in other languages

google translate icon
Copyright ©2021 – 2023

Emergency Contacts

Crisis Line

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Mental Health Support

310-6789