Parenting a Problem Adolescent: Resilience

Tunmore (cited in Regel & Roberts, 2002, 73) outlined various mental health promoting factors (based on evidence) that are relevant to adolescent kids and to parents alike to reflect upon. They include:

Individual

1. Self-esteem, sociability and autonomy

2. Social support systems that encourage personal effort and coping

3. Good communication skills

4. A sense of humour

5. Religious faith

6. The capacity to reflect

Family (Group)

1. Family compassion, warmth and absence of parental discord

2. At least one good parent-child relationship

3. Affection

4. Appropriate and consistent discipline

5. Family support for education

Environment

1. A wider support network within the community

2. Good housing

3. A high standard of living

4. A range of positive sport and leisure activities

5. A high morale school offering a safe and disciplined environment with strong academic and non-academic opportunities

Whilst there are some important factors here, you need to have a bit of caution in places, because for example a high morale school is clearly a value-laden assumption. It is not unreasonable to argue that for some well off children, they are at greater advantage economically and socially, than their poorer counterparts, in gaining a quality education. However if this could be achieved then yes a high morale school as described could be beneficial for social and emotion health.