Lisa LaBonte

Resilient Youth Lisa LaBonte

The global pandemic of 2020 has been a real downer for many and youth worldwide are especially suffering from the lockdowns. Anxiety, isolation, and depression have been rising to alarming levels. Surely there are actions to take to minimize, stabilize, and energize mental wellbeing as we all endure just a bit longer. Resilient Youth: Emotional Wellbeing in the Wake of the Covid-19 Global Pandemic is a book that one "does" as much as a book one reads. Part creative journal, part 'yearbook', 'Activities to Support Mental Health to Seize (Cs!) Contentment and Conquer Quarantine' consists of fun and thought-provoking tips and introspective activities interspersed throughout, things to potentially Create, Consider, Communicate, Color, Cry, and Celebrate. All the while the goals of which are to reframe one's perspective, raise one's mood. The book's subtitle, 'Stories of Reflection and Resolve from the Trenches', provides the context by which global youth across six continents share their stories as to how Covid-19 has affected their lives. They then pivot and share their own coping strategies with peers. Further to the book's intention (fortifying one's self-esteem and resiliency), feature pieces of 'Fatherly Wisdom' offer small doses of tough love for a good life from a unique male perspective.