Your school can strengthen students' mental resilience.
NATIONWIDE STUDY ON THE MENTAL RESILIENCE OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH, A FREE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL FOR SCHOOLS.
Research partners
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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 teenagers 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 substantive standards for conducting research involving minor participants. This confirms that both the methodology and the implementation of the study guarantee the safety, anonymity, and respect for the rights of all students participating in the project.
We would like to thank the AWF Bioethics Committee for their trust, as well as 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.
Children and teenagers learn every day how to deal with changes, 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 moments.
This is the skill we want to support and develop. That is why we are launching a new edition of our mental resilience study in Polish schools.
What is mental resilience?
What is mental
resilience?
Mental resilience is not a trait we are born with. It is a skill, much like riding a bike. It can be practiced, developed, and strengthened at any age, in any grade, and in any school.
- 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?
Students who develop these skills:
- navigate relationships with peers and teachers better,
- take on academic and extracurricular challenges more easily,
- are able to talk about their feelings and needs,
- are more self-confident and helpful to others,
- show lower levels of depressive symptoms and a lower tendency toward problematic behaviors,
- are less likely to use psychoactive substances,
- find balance and calm more easily in difficult situations,
- have more resources to cope with pressure and setbacks.
Why
do we conduct research?
This study is a diagnostic tool, but also an inspiration for action. We want to understand what is already working in our schools and how it can be strengthened.
Thanks to it:
- schools learn about the strengths and needs of their students,
- teachers and educators receive ready-to-use tools to support resilience development in the classroom,
- the school can implement measures that have a real impact on student well-being,
- the school becomes part of a nationwide network of institutions sharing best practices as part 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 developed – 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 lesson plans,
- participation in building a network of supportive schools in the region,
- the opportunity to implement innovative and proven solutions for 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 youth.
The school can be registered for the study by the school principal or a staff member after obtaining the principal's consent for the institution's participation.
Who can participate in the study?
We invite children and youth aged 10-18 to participate in the study.
When and how will the study take place?
The study is conducted on an ongoing basis until 2031, with annual publication of results.
Deadlines:
School recruitment: October 1 – June 20 each year
Study implementation: October 1 – June 30
Publication of results: October (for the previous research year)
Current study (Edition I):
1.10.2026 – 30.06.2027
The study is conducted online and is accessible via computers and mobile phones. Students can complete it anywhere and at any time at school (e.g., during homeroom or computer science class).
Starting October 1, links to the study will be sent to the email address of the school coordinator provided in the registration form.
School registration 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 allow for the identification of 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
You can download the complete set of documents needed to conduct the mental resilience study at your school here.
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 the school >>
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions about the study on the mental resilience of children and youth
Yes. The study was prepared by specialists based on a validated psychometric tool. The questionnaire includes questions about well-being, self-perception, and social relationships – it does not contain sensitive, unethical, or diagnostic content. Participation in the study carries no psychological or emotional risks. It is a form of anonymous self-assessment.
The survey is completely anonymous – we do not collect names, surnames, PESEL numbers, 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 survey results will be presented at the Silesian Voivodeship level, without identifying specific schools. This will allow for the identification of regional trends and needs regarding mental health support for youth.
Schools participating in the study may 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 review 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’s 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
We are also conducting a separate mental resilience study for children in foster care and their foster parents.
A different environment, the same philosophy — we speak the language of STRENGTH, not deficits.
Contact
For questions regarding the organization of the study, please contact
Magdalena Tylska
Customer Service Specialist at the ULICA Foundation
For questions regarding the content of the study, please contact the study manager
Agata Gemser-Wrębiak
Director of the Motivational and Preventive Centre
biuro@fundacjaulica.pl
Tel. +48 512 577 677
agata@fundacjaulica.pl
Tel. + 48 453 389 717
Study sponsors
This study was financed by the National Institute of Freedom – Centre for Civil Society Development under the government program: Civic 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.