Chronic anxiety, existential fatigue, and the bitter feeling of “What will happen tomorrow?” signal that support networks have failed, forcing individuals into relentless effort before healing—an effort whose cost returns tomorrow with heavy interest.
In such conditions, resilience—both psychological endurance and collective stamina—is not a luxury recommendation from psychologists; it is a survival necessity. Without building this capacity, anger accumulates silently, indifference spreads, and collective hope melts like snow under the sun.
Resilience does not mean enduring in silence; it is the opposite of collapse—but not through denial. True resilience arises from accurately understanding the situation, regulating emotions, and restoring energy to continue.
Societies that ignore this capacity already pay the price through a fragile economy, shaky security, and weakened social bonds—and tomorrow, the cost will be far higher.
This perspective is rooted in our faith as well. Imam Ali (AS) said: “Patience is the essence of individual and collective life; without it, the whole body collapses.” Behavioral sciences confirm the same principle.
Albert Mauston, a prominent psychologist, calls resilience “ordinary magic”: simple, everyday mechanisms that activate under stress. Resilience is not a rare talent; it is an acquired skill shaped by education, warm relationships, and guided experiences.
Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable, where neglecting collective mental health results in the most painful and long-lasting consequences.
According to the 1404 National Mental Health Survey by the Ministry of Health, about 22% of Iranian children and adolescents aged 6–18 experience some type of psychological or behavioral disorder, with anxiety disorders—prevalent in 10%—being the most common.
A generation growing up in increasing uncertainty, without learning emotional awareness, frustration tolerance, and problem-solving, will carry these wounds into adulthood, imposing a heavy cost on the nation’s future.
Adolescence is a formative period for identity. Neglect may appear harmless today, but tomorrow it manifests as hidden depression, sudden anger, isolation, or risky behaviors such as addiction and suicide. Ignoring this generation is not merely a failure in education; it is a strategic betrayal of the country’s future.
Yet, this cost is not inevitable. Failure to act will be far more expensive than any economic or social crisis. The solutions are not idealistic—they are practical, implementable measures.
Life skills must be fully integrated into schools, from elementary to high school, with official instruction on naming emotions, problem-solving, and decision-making. Parents should participate in regular workshops to learn how to provide emotional support and transfer these skills to children—teaching them “to fish, not just giving the fish.”
Neighborhood and school support networks—peer groups, consistent counselors, and daily sports and arts activities—should be established. Media roles must be redefined, shifting from crisis-focused coverage to producing hopeful content and authentic narratives of resilience.
Implementation requires budget prioritization and institutional coordination, but the cost of inaction will be far higher. These are the “ordinary magic”: simple, low-cost, and effective measures.
The main problem is that resilience has not yet been taken seriously in policy-making. Children’s mental health is either left to families or limited to scattered, low-impact programs. The education system marginalizes life skills, media is absorbed in daily crises, and institutions react rather than prevent. The result? A fatigued, fragile generation before entering social action.
Einstein said: “In the midst of every crisis, there lies an opportunity; but that opportunity only matters to those who can stand firm in the heart of the crisis.” Investing in the resilience of children and adolescents is not a cost; it is national insurance for navigating a turbulent tomorrow with fewer losses.
Resilience is not a luxury of peaceful times; it is a survival tool in days of chaos. If we ignore collective mental health today, tomorrow we will face a generation incapable of regenerating hope or navigating crises. Every day these skills go untaught, the burden grows heavier on all of us.
