Strengthening the mental resilience of children and adolescents
Study partners
Information activities supported by
Study approved by the Bioethics Committee of the AWF in Katowice
We are pleased to announce that our nationwide study on the mental resilience of children and adolescents has received a positive opinion from the Bioethics Committee of the Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice.
This means the project has been assessed as compliant with current ethical and professional standards for conducting research involving minor participants. This confirms that both the methodology and the way the study is conducted guarantee the safety, anonymity, and respect for the rights of all students participating in the project.
We thank the AWF Bioethics Committee for their trust, and all our partners and schools for their cooperation.
Together, we are creating a reliable, valuable, and ethical study that will help us better understand the needs of young people in our region.
Because every child has potential. Let’s help them discover and develop it.
Every day, children and adolescents learn to cope with change, emotions, and challenges in their relationships and at school. What helps them most in this is mental resilience – the ability to find inner strength, seek solutions, and bounce back even after difficult times.
This is the skill we want to support and develop. That is why we are launching a new edition of the mental resilience study in Polish schools.
What is mental resilience?
What is mental
resilience?
Mental resilience (resiliency) is something that can be built – just like muscles, it is:
- the ability to cope with stress and emotions,
- self-esteem,
- openness to new experiences,
- looking to the future with optimism,
- seeking support when we need it.
Why
is it worth strengthening?
Children and adolescents who develop these skills:
- navigate relationships with others better,
- take on challenges more easily,
- are able to talk about their feelings and needs,
- are more self-confident and helpful toward others.
- show lower levels of depressive symptoms and a lower tendency toward problematic behaviors,
- are less likely to use psychoactive substances.
Why
do we conduct research?
We want to understand what is already working and how it can be strengthened. This study is a diagnostic tool, but also an inspiration for action.
Thanks to it:
- schools learn about the strengths and needs of their students,
- receive ready-to-use tools to support resilience development,
- can implement actions that have a real impact on student well-being,
- become part of a network of schools sharing best practices and building the foundation of the SKILLFUL SCHOOLS program.
We are continuing – because we already know it works!
In the previous edition of the study, we created a mental resilience development program based on what children and teenagers found truly helpful.
Two workshops were created – ready to be conducted in any classroom. The workshops help build a positive self-image, develop optimism and a sense of agency, and support openness, empathy, and resilience to peer pressure.
Workshop scripts are available to schools participating in the study.
Logistical information
What does a school gain by joining the study?
- free access to a diagnostic tool,
- a report on resilience levels at the provincial level,
- access to educational materials and workshop scenarios,
- participation in building a network of supportive institutions in the region,
- the opportunity to implement innovative and proven solutions in working with students as part of the Skillful School program,
- access to development recommendations, which we plan to launch in October 2026.
How to join the study?
It is very simple. Just fill out the registration form below, and your school will soon join a program that strengthens the potential of children and adolescents.
The school can be registered by the principal or a staff member who has obtained the principal's consent for the institution's participation.
Who can participate in the study?
We invite children and adolescents aged 10-18 to participate in the study.
When and how will the study take place?
Following a decision by the Bioethics Committee, we have received approval to expand and extend the project. The study is now being conducted as a nationwide mental resilience study for children and adolescents, running continuously until 2031. The project is a long-term monitoring initiative, with a report summarizing the results of the completed research year published annually.
School recruitment takes place periodically during each academic season between:
October 1 – June 20
The study is conducted in schools during the period:
October 1 – June 30
Results are published in October and include data from the previous research year.
This format allows for continuous monitoring of changes over time and better alignment of support activities with the actual needs of students and teachers.
THE CURRENT STUDY will take place from
October 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
It will be an online study, accessible on both computers and mobile phones.
This will allow students to complete the survey at any convenient time and place within the school (e.g., during a homeroom period or computer class).
Links to the study will be sent to the school-appointed study coordinators at the email address provided in the registration form.
Register your school for the
Mental Resilience Study
Information on the publication of study results
The results of the 1st EDITION of the mental resilience study will be presented at the level of the Silesian Voivodeship.
This will make it possible to identify regional trends and areas requiring support – without identifying specific institutions.
Individual school results will not be made public. However, schools participating in the study will be able to apply for an individual report for their institution.
Depending on the number of applications and available organizational resources, the Foundation reserves the right to charge a fee for this service if it exceeds the capacity provided for in the current project budget. We will keep schools informed about the application procedure and any potential costs once the main part of the study is completed.
Materials for schools participating in the study
Here you can download the complete set of documents needed to conduct the mental resilience study at your school.
Study regulations >>Information about the study for parents and participants >> Consent form for parent/guardian/participantfor the child's participation in the study >>
Instructions for the school study coordinator >> Invitation for the teaching staff >>A3 poster informing about the study >>
Announcement for the school website >> Facebook post 1200x628 >> Facebook cover 820x312 >>
School website tile 1080x1080 >>
Principal's consent to conduct the study at school >>
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions about the study on the mental resilience of children and adolescents
Yes. The study was prepared by specialists based on a validated psychometric tool. The survey includes questions about well-being, self-perception, and social relationships – it does not contain sensitive, unethical, or diagnostic content. Participation in the study poses no psychological or emotional risks. It is a form of anonymous self-assessment.
The study is completely anonymous – we do not collect names, surnames, national identification numbers (PESEL), or any data that could identify a child. The collected data is analyzed in aggregate and used solely for statistical and educational purposes. All procedures are carried out in accordance with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) requirements.
The results of the study will be presented at the level of the Silesian Voivodeship, without identifying specific schools. This will make it possible to identify regional trends and needs regarding mental health support for youth.
Schools participating in the study will be able to request an individual report for their institution. The Foundation reserves the right to charge a fee for preparing such reports if the number of requests exceeds the project's budgetary capacity.
No. Participation in the study is completely voluntary and takes place solely with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. If you do not provide consent, your child will not participate in the study.
Yes. At the request of a parent or guardian, it is possible to view the study questionnaire before it is completed. To do so, you can contact the study coordinator at the school or directly contact the study manager, Agata Gemser-Wrębiak: agata@fundacjaulica.pl
Let us create schools together where children and youth not only gain knowledge, but also strength, courage, and self-confidence.
Because mental resilience is something that can be built
– step by step.
T O G E T H E R
Contact
For questions regarding the organization of the study, please contact
Magdalena Tylska
Customer Service Specialist at the ULICA Foundation
Tel. +48 512 577 677
For questions regarding the substantive aspects of the study, please contact the study manager
Agata Gemser-Wrębiak
Director of the Dr. Ben Furman Motivational and Preventive Centre, Study Manager
Tel. + 48 453 389 717
Study sponsors
The study was financed by the National Institute of Freedom – Centre for Civil Society Development under the government programme: Citizens' Initiatives Fund NOWEFIO for the years 2021-2023
The study and recommendation report are co-financed by the Foundation's strategic partner, Neo Energy Group.