Additional Resources for Self-Awareness

From Surviving to Thriving is not intended as a medical or mental health intervention

The text From Surviving to Thriving is a resource designed to help individuals, particularly students, build personal and academic resilience. It focuses on strategies to manage stress, improve well-being, and foster healthier responses to challenges. The resource emphasizes recognizing automatic stress responses, exploring stressors, choosing healthier coping strategies, and developing strong support networks. It is not intended as a medical or mental health intervention but provides tools to improve resilience in the face of adversity, including stress from academic pressures, personal difficulties, and external challenges. The text advocates for a balanced approach to stress, recognizing that while stress is inevitable, resilience can help individuals adapt and thrive in both personal and academic settings.

This resource was originally created based on evidence from various academic sources, ensuring that the strategies and approaches proposed are supported by research. To ensure its effectiveness and accuracy, it was analyzed by McMaster University in late 2017, which allowed for adjustments to be made to its content. The updated version, which incorporated the results of this analysis, was then evaluated through a pilot program at Queen’s University, with the evaluation completed in early 2019. This thorough evaluation process helped improve the resource’s reliability and its applicability for those seeking to strengthen their resilience and manage stress both personally and academically.