Life is an exciting and often unpredictable journey. In meeting life's trials and tribulations we grow stronger and gain personal coping skills and a sense of who we are. Over time we become more resilient. Today's youth are growing up in a more complex, fast paced world which at times is extremely negative.

Young people today are going through various challenges. They are juggling a lot more than past generations in terms of extra curricular activities as well as a heightened sense of expectation about their future from family, friends, school and of course themselves. There are higher levels of family break-up, issues related to cyber safety, pressure to be 'popular', negative role models portrayed in the media and easier access to drugs and alcohol.

With the average Australian Marriage lasting 11 years, there is a likelihood that the youth will come from broken homes. One in five of their parents will suffer a mental illness and one in four young people in schools across Australia are bullied and harassed on a weekly basis which in turn has increased the hospitalisation of young people as a result of intentional self harm. Studies also suggest that an increasing number of youth suffer from high anxiety, depression and disorders.

Michael Carr-Gregg is one of Australia's highest profile psychologists and has commented on the lack of resilience and coping mechanisms that he is encountering in young people he sees through his practice. "Today, one in four young people will have a diagnosable mental illness prior to age 18, and 75% of all psychological problems in human beings occur under the age of 24, so social and emotional competencies need to be addressed to help tackle this global trend taking over our youth", Michael Carr-Gregg says. If he had one wish, it would be for the parents of Australia to give their kids the gift of resilience: the capacity to face and overcome, be strengthened by and even be transformed by adversity.

What is this term 'resilience' that everyone is throwing around? Resilience is the capacity of a person to address challenges and cope with adversity and hardship, and then return to a state of wellbeing. The key connections with resilience is a sense of belonging to family, friends and to school. These three elements are pivotal in any teenager's life, but can cause the most stress and anxiety.

Highlighted in our School, Student and Family Program (SSFP), increasing numbers of students are struggling through school and life with emotional and social needs that adversely affect their learning and impact all three of these elements.
Manager, Rosanne Plunkett says lack of resilience and coping skills has been one of the highest presenting issues for students who recfeived counselling in the Diocese, 'Our 2011 statistics indicate that out of 1300 students who came to counselling, 25% of them required help and support to develop resilience in order to manage the challenges and difficulties they faced in their everyday lives'.

Young people may be less equipped than previous generations to cope with these challenges. Parents of previous generations of children wholived through difficult times taught them skills and attitudes that helped them to become independant and resilient, the youth nowadays have to deal with so much in their life, they do not have the coping skills to deal with it all.

Michael Carr-Gregg advocates teaching decision-making, anger management, self esteem and coping skills as well as encouraging counselling in late primary and early secondary school to those students who may not be coping well. What students need today are positive role models, guidance, support and a willing ear to listen.

The key role of CatholicCare's school counsellors is to be just that. To help students to function well both at school and in life and encourage positive choices, throughts and actions. Our counsellors provide practical strategies to help students handle the complexity of their lives and learn how to manage difficulties, frustrations, sadness and challenging times. Rosanne says 'Apart from providing face-to-face counselling, our school counsellors provide students with social and emotional learning skills that underpin wellbeing and resilience.

Social and emotional learning is the process through which young people acquire the knowledge, attitudes and skills to recognise and manage their emotions, set and achieve positive goals, demonstrate and develop empathy for others as well as manage difficult situations and times resiliently. The teaching of life skills that enhance wellbeing and resilience has become a powerful tool in the ongoing battle to prevent youth depression, suicide, self-harm, violence and substance abuse. This will enable young people top respond positively and adaptively to whatever life may throw at them, and just enjoy being teenagers.