As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and many of us are sheltering in place, there is a tremendous strain placed on our young people and their relationships with family, peers and their communities. These tensions can have long-lasting effects on mental health. The good news is that resilience is possible, but it requires more than just a positive mindset. Building on his research from around the world and clinical work with child populations that have experienced the stress of social isolation, poverty, stigma and violence, Dr. Ungar will discuss 12 factors young people need to both survive and thrive during this pandemic. Throughout this fast-paced, story-filled presentation, Dr. Ungar will show that resilience is much more than a child’s personal capacity to overcome adversity. It is instead a reflection of how well families, schools, service providers and communities work together to create opportunities for children and youth to navigate their way to the resources they need for well-being while making those resources available in ways that young people experience as meaningful. Dr. Ungar’s work suggests the need for a culturally sensitive interpretation of what resilience means to children and their families from diverse backgrounds. His presentation will end with four strategies we can teach children to make them better able to cope with an ever-changing world.

Dr. Ungar is a Family Therapist and Professor of Social Work at Dalhousie University where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Child, Family and Community Resilience. He has written 16 books for parents, caregivers, educators, mental health professionals, and researchers. His recent works include Change Your World (2019), Working with Children and Youth with Complex Needs, 2nd Edition (2020), and Multisystemic Resilience, coming out in 2021.