Ten actions to promote emotional well-being in childhood and adolescence

Emotional well-being and resilience are not innate qualities that appear spontaneously: they are processes that are built throughout development, thanks to emotional support, the presence of secure attachments, and the opportunity to inhabit environments that offer stability, meaning, and trust. The 16th FAROS Report, entitled Navigating Adversity: Keys to Resilient Childhood and Adolescence, offers a comprehensive and rigorous look at the various factors involved in this process, from early childhood to adolescence.

The knowledge we have today from neuroscience, psychology, pedagogy, and the social sciences allows us to affirm that promoting emotional well-being must be a shared priority. This implies creating family, school, social, and community environments that are simultaneously supportive, protective, and stimulating , in which children and adolescents can develop their autonomy, self-esteem, and ability to cope with adversity.

However, this responsibility cannot fall solely on families or schools . Public policies, the organization of urban spaces, leisure culture, and the media all have an unavoidable responsibility in creating the structural conditions for emotionally healthy childhood and adolescence. Strengthening mental and emotional health from the very beginning of life is an investment in a fairer, more empathetic, and more cohesive society.

This new FAROS Report concludes with a series of actions , summarizing the main lessons learned and key messages that can guide families, professionals and administrations.

Ten actions to promote emotional well-being and resilience in children and young people

1. Listening to and validating emotions: Giving space to all emotions, without judging them or trying to eliminate them, is the foundation for building good emotional regulation.
2. Creating secure and stable bonds: Children and adolescents need to feel loved, supported, and important to their role models.
3. Promoting autonomy and participation: Offering opportunities to decide, make mistakes and correct them helps develop self-esteem and confidence.
4. Avoid overprotection and excessive pressure: It is necessary to find a balance between emotional support and realistic demands, adapted to each stage.
5. Lead by example: what we do and how we handle difficulties has a much greater impact than what we say.
6. Include emotional education in all environments: At home, at school, and during leisure time, skills such as emotional awareness, empathy, and resilience should be promoted.
7. Building educational communities: Emotional well-being is also built collectively, with support networks and trusted, present adults as role models.
8. Consider diversity and vulnerability: Inclusive, safe and sensitive environments must be guaranteed to meet the specific needs of each child or adolescent.
9. Designing healthy environments: Physical space, access to nature, culture and leisure play an important role in emotional well-being.
10. Promote public policies committed to mental health: Regulatory frameworks are needed to guarantee the right to emotional well-being of children and adolescents.

This is an original article from the Escola de Salut de l'Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona . For more information on family communication, please consult the   16th FAROS Report, entitled Navigating adversity: keys to a resilient childhood and adolescence.