The Best of Coping provides a structured and comprehensive programme for helping adolescents develop the resilience and coping skills necessary to deal with common problems and situations.

Research shows that young people with an optimistic and effective coping style feel better about themselves, are happier and achieve more in school and life. The programme is based on the research and experience gained from the popular Adolescent Coping Scale (ACS), a self-report inventory that assesses the capacity for using various coping strategies. It uses the same concepts as the ACS and provides a seamless follow-up intervention programme, although the programme can also be used without reference to the ACS. ­

The materials consist of a Facilitator's Guide, which provides guidelines for implementing the 10 modules; and a Student Workbook, which provides scenarios and activities to be completed. The modules focus on activities that are highly pertinent to young people today, such as positive thinking, decision making, goal setting, problem solving and time management. Each module begins with an aim, which is followed by examples and exercises to highlight the issues being addressed.

Opportunities for class and group discussion are included throughout, as well as ideas for work in small groups. The modules conclude with a summary and additional activities should time allow or for follow-up purposes. The duration of each module is around 50 minutes, with an approximate time allotted to each activity to allow the facilitator to complete all the material provided. However, these times are only considered as a guide and the aim of the session should be focused on the understanding of the concepts, rather than adhering to the time allocated. Similarly, whilst the sessions are presented in a particular sequence, there is scope for changing the order of the sessions and customising them to the needs of the students involved.