PROTECTIVE FACTORS
While risk factors make people
more prone to experiencing substance use, problem gambling and mental health
issues, protective factors serve to help buffer or shield people from the
effects of negative things going on in their lives. As a result, protective
factors can help prevent or lessen problem gambling, substance use or mental
health issues.
Biological Protective Factors
Just as the genes people inherit
from their parents can make them more susceptible to mental health, problem
gambling and substance use issues, people’s genes can also make them less
susceptible. Also, people may inherit adaptive personality traits that serve to
help them “bounce back” faster after depressing events happen to them.
Likewise, people also could inherit a tendency to deal more successfully with
anxiety-provoking situations, thus helping to protect them from developing
anxiety-related disorders.
Environmental Protective Factors
There are many beneficial things
one can do to reduce the impact of negative life circumstances. As described
below, protective factors can include actions taken to increase coping with
life stressors, avoiding substance use and problem gambling, and seeking treatment
for problematic mental health issues. Just as substance use, problem gambling
and mental health problems can be risk factors for each other, avoiding
substance use or problem gambling and maintaining good mental health can help
prevent problems in these areas as well.
Coping Skills
One category of protective
factors involves developing good ways of coping with stress and improving
overall emotional well-being. In general, coping involves creating a supportive
and nurturing environment for oneself, developing skills for interacting
effectively with people, and maintaining a stable living and working situation.
Good coping mechanisms include:
• Learning effective
communication skills
• Learning problem-solving skills
• Developing a good support
system
• Learning to take responsibility
for one’s actions and well-being
• Maintaining employment and a
meaningful day-to-day routine
• Participating in
recovery/support groups (for substance use, problem
gambling and mental health
problems)
• Practicing relaxation skills
and enjoying life
SOURCE: http://www.ct.gov/dmhas/lib/dmhas/pgs/Cooccuringworkbook.pdf
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