HEALTH & WELLNESS
PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF RALEIGH PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, building resilience requires safe, stable and nurturing relationships and environments.
Building Resilience in Your Community By Jessica Livingston, M.Ed., CPTD, and Ainsley Worrell, M.S., CHES
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pproximately one in five youth and adults worldwide experience mental health conditions and substance use disorders. In 2020, the number of people seeking help with anxiety and depression skyrocketed. Thoughts of suicide and self-harm are being reported at higher rates than ever, with suicide being the second leading cause of death among 15- to 29-year-olds. Approximately 20 percent of those who’ve experienced post-conflict events, such as natural disasters, extreme violence, pandemics and war, have a mental health condition. Over time, stress, trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) (tinyurl.com/ynxmbby8) may contribute to serious health problems — such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, substance abuse and mental disorders, including depression or anxiety. Mental health conditions can create loneliness and isolation and have a substantial effect on relationships, school or work performance, health outcomes, and the ability to participate in the community.
22 Parks & Recreation
Building Resilience Fortunately, research has shown that building resilience in individuals, families, communities and society can counteract some of the negative consequences of stress, trauma and ACEs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, building resilience requires safe, stable and nurturing relationships and environments (SSNREs) (tinyurl.com/vdcym9jw). SSNREs should be fostered at home, school, work and in the community.
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Public parks serve an important societal function, with welldocumented physical and mental health benefits that build resilience. Spending time in nature is linked to improvements in mood and emotional well-being. Recreation has been shown to improve fitness, help develop cooperation and teamwork, and is a great way to have fun while developing safe, stable and nurturing relationships with others. During the pandemic, parks across the country saw an increase in park visitation (up 63.4 percent). As park and recreation professionals, we are charged with the creation of SSNREs using the resources, tools and principles below. The Community Resilience Initiative (tinyurl.com/dzsmxeu6) is an excellent resource for recreation professionals that offers training, community engagement materials,
