Research has long established that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can lead to a range of negative psychological consequences, including post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms. It is also increasingly recognized that ACEs can serve as a catalyst for positive changes, such as post-traumatic growth (PTG). The mechanisms by which people report negative or positive changes are less well known. This study explored whether emotional resilience and event centrality could determine the degree of negative or positive changes reported following ACEs. Participants (N = 167; 54.5% female; aged 19-95 years) completed an online survey measuring experiences of childhood adversity, resilience, event centrality, PTS symptoms and PTG. Mediation analyses indicated that resilience and event centrality explained PTG only, exerting significant medium negative and small positive indirect effects on PTG, respectively. These findings indicate that following ACEs, the treatment and management of emotional resilience and event centrality could lead to positive effects on psychological well-being.

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The Covid-19 pandemic has had a negative impact upon individual's psychological wellbeing. This case study series aimed to use a mental health prevention and promotion approach to promote positive emotional wellbeing and prevent deterioration of mental health difficulties in individuals who have had Covid-19. 573 individuals, who had recently tested positive for Covid-19, registered across two General Practices (GP), were initially screened, and 409 were contacted and offered psychological support. 9.1% accepted the offer at first but only 3.2% started the sessions. Psychometrics was used within the first and last session but also at a 6-week follow up to measure wellbeing, resiliency, low mood and anxiety. Experience of service questionnaires was also taken. Scores for wellbeing and resiliency increased at a statistically significant level. Scores for anxiety and low mood decreased at a statistically significant level, this was maintained at follow up. Qualitative feedback was positive. This service supports previous findings that mental health prevention and promotion interventions are effective. However, it is important to be mindful that given only 12 individuals finalized the sessions, the power of statistical findings are reduced. Nonetheless, this service is reasonably effective for people with a recent, positive Covid-19 test. Service scope should widen to include those who have struggled with the effects of the pandemic and not just those who received a positive diagnosis.