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As Mental Health Awareness Month draws to a close, a psychologist shares his insights into one of the most powerful skills for protecting mental wellbeing, even when situations may feel overwhelming.

“We’re living in volatile times. As world news bulletins and economic indicators add to the individual pressures we all face, resilience has become an increasingly important skill for trying to survive amid uncertainty,” says Tony de Gouveia, a clinical psychologist who practises at Netcare Akeso Alberton.

“Surviving psychologically in an environment of rapid change is becoming increasingly difficult for many of us. It can feel as though we are in an emotional war to keep ourselves moving forward despite the incredible odds stacked against us in the situation we are currently facing.”

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from hardship, and de Gouveia observes that people with well-developed resilience skills have an additional layer of psychological protection that can help them cope, and even thrive, when others may become overwhelmed by hopelessness or anxiety.

Clinical psychologist Tony de Gouveia at the launch of his book, ‘Resilience: Blogs and Bytes’, with MC Dr Hekkie van der Westhuizen. The book is a collection of articles and reflections on choosing to move forward and finding the strength and encouragement needed to develop resilience.

 

“This psychological hardiness is what distinguishes people who don’t break down in a crisis. I have been deeply interested in positive psychology, in developing my own resilience skills and in helping others to boost their ability to become more resilient,” he says. “We all face moments that shake us, moments that make us question everything. Resilience is about overcoming these setbacks. It’s about picking ourselves up one step at a time and choosing to move forward even when it’s hard.” Three features of resilience Accepting what’s within our control “A realistic view of the factors we can control, and those that are not within our influence, is an important principle of resilience. From a psychological perspective, we tend to seek as much internal control over our circumstances as possible. Yet accepting that some things are beyond our power to control allows us to focus our energy more effectively,” de Gouveia explains. A reason to get up in the morning “People who feel they have a purpose in life, those who can confidently say why they do what they do, tend to have a more developed sense of commitment to sustain them through tough times. Defining our sense of purpose may be a lifelong journey, but a reason to get out of bed every morning helps provide the impetus required to develop resilience,” he says.<

 

• A meaningful challenge

“Striving for something we want to achieve or looking forward to an item on our bucket list are strong motivators that can help ward off despondency and build the grit and endurance required for resilience. There is usually something to look forward to, some new goal on the horizon to be conquered, that can give us the will to overcome our present difficult circumstances,” de Gouveia suggests.

Recently, de Gouveia shared his insights and experiences in a book titled ‘Resilience: Blogs and Bytes’, a collection of articles and reflections on choosing to move forward and finding the strength and encouragement needed to develop resilience.

“The frenetic pace of adult life and the curveballs continually thrown at us demand that we either break or learn to bend. I see the mental health consequences when people have not been able to develop their resilience skills sufficiently. Life can beat a person down, which can lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health problems. This is why resilience is important to develop and practise before a crisis strikes,” de Gouveia says.

He points out that mental health professionals can help build the skills needed to become more resilient to life’s challenges, as well as address underlying factors that could be hampering mental health and wellbeing. Contact your nearest Netcare Akeso facility to make an appointment.

“Resilience teaches us that we are stronger than we think. Every setback holds the power to spark a comeback,” de Gouveia concludes.

Ends.

About Netcare Akeso
Netcare Akeso operates a network of private inpatient mental health facilities and is part of the Netcare Group. Netcare Akeso provides individual, integrated and family-oriented treatment in specialised inpatient facilities, as well as certain outpatient services, for a range of psychiatric, psychological and substance use conditions.

Please visit www.akeso.co.za or contact [email protected] for further information.

In the event of a psychological crisis, call 0861 435 787, 24 hours a day for emergency support. Psychiatrist consultations can be made through Netcare appointmed™, online at www.netcareappointmed.co.za or by calling 0860 555 565.

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