ABSTRACT

That life events and stressful living circumstances play an important role in our mental health is well understood by all of us, and well supported by the evidence reviewed here. What has been debated in earlier chapters is what explains vulnerability or resilience in the face of such events and difficulties. This chapter explores what we know about how resilient people cope, and whether it is possible to teach those skills or develop those personal attributes in others to strengthen their resilience. Coping well is linked to the support received from those close to us, hence the second part of this exploration is of the qualities of such support, and whether there are implications for how supportive relationships can be strengthened, or developed; and conversely, whether there are implications for how relationships that undermine our ability to cope can be improved, or escaped. The importance of wider societal support – the role of the welfare state, neighbourhood, and social structures – is the subject of a later chapter.