When the world is in flux, and exams and assignments are adding up, it can be hard to keep yourself afloat. Mental health is important, but how can UFV students take care of it when the bad news never ends, and they can barely make ends meet as it is?  

Robbyn Bennett, Executive Director of Student Affairs, says it’s a privilege to be with others in their greatest moments of hardship. In her career as a counsellor, she’s often witnessed people’s most difficult moments.  

“It can be really tricky to regularly be in the presence of suffering,” says Robbyn, who was a psychotherapist for almost a decade “I think the reason that I stick with it is that it’s such a privilege, such a gift, to be able to be with people when they make profound shifts and changes in their life. And, hopefully, a better future for themselves.” 

Those who successfully adapt during trying times have a key skill in common: resilience. And it’s not something you’re born with or without — according to psychological research, the resources and skills associated with resilience can be nurtured through practice.  

Robbyn describes resilience as belief in one’s own fortitude and exercising self-compassion during difficult moments as an opportunity to learn. 

“Going through a hard thing, it doesn’t automatically equate to failure. Resilience involves holding on to that belief that you’ll get through it — it’s an ability to exercise confidence that you will persist  through the hard stuff.”  

But confidence and self-compassion don’t make up the whole story. That’s where activism and social change comes in.  

“I do not want to oversimplify like everybody can just access resiliency all the time. Some people are experiencing extraordinary, oppressive circumstances or extraordinary hurdles that are more challenging. Lots of folks around us have intersectional identities that come with a lot of different varying levels of systemic barriers,” Robbyn specifies.  

“And so, I don’t want to say that everybody can just ‘resilient’ their way through anything. There are these systemic factors that often weigh in, and people may not have choices on how they’re feeling. So, I think the systems influence our ability to access our own resiliency or to be resilient.” 

With that in mind, Robbyn recommends leaning into what gives you hope. For her, it’s the students she gets to work with every day.  

“Young people are so fierce and so honourable. They’re demanding of us for a better world, I think, and I like that they’re challenging the world to be different. I think there is a storm that’s happening right now which often happens before change. And so young people give me hope,” she says.  

Here are some counsellor-recommended strategies to start building your own resilience: 

Narrow your focus: Focusing on everything that’s out of your control can be overwhelming. Instead, when feeling powerless, identify what you can control. 

Create structure: Build a personalized, regular routine including activities that support your unique well-being. Think about what’s been helpful for you in the past. To feel well, do you need more social connection? More time alone? More exercise? More rest? Intentionally schedule these healthy activities into your daily life. 

Identify existing strengths: Give yourself credit for what you’re already doing well. Try analyzing this by breaking down a recent social interaction. How are you already moving through the world and successfully navigating hard situations? Tap into your natural skills and strengths to navigate what you’re struggling with now.  

Show compassion to yourself and others: Resilience looks different for everyone, and many structural factors can affect how resilient a person is able to be in each circumstance. Don’t try to “fix” someone who’s struggling. (No toxic positivity!) Be curious, be kind, and offer others as much choice as possible in how they want to engage.