The 180 Podcast | Pamela Cantor, M.D.: Coronavirus—Keeping Our Children And Ourselves Safe
A new strain of coronavirus has created a global crisis. Humans never encountered this strain until just a few months ago, so don’t have immunity or protective factors against it as with viruses that have been around a long time. There is no vaccine and no medications to treat it, yet. It is also highly contagious and can lead to death, especially among the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. The virus is already straining the capacity of governments and healthcare systems to confront it. Schools, businesses and borders are closed, and global financial markets are reeling.
Americans are being told to stay home in order to be safe. But to provide physical safety, means disruption of the very things that produce emotional safety, namely the human connections everyone needs to feel secure, cope with stress, manage fear, and surmount this crisis. School and college-aged students are being separated from their teachers and friends, a sudden disruption made more acute because so many students depend on their schools for food, health care, and adults they trust.
The massive change in the way Americans live, learn and work is the biggest problem for young people today and the adults surrounding and supporting them. So the engineering problem becomes how to create both physical AND emotional safety at the same time for all children.
During this special edition of The 180, Dr. Cantor offers insights and advice on how we can help children and the people who love and care for them weather this unprecedented emergency.
To supplement the insights and advice offered by Dr. Cantor on this episode, Turnaround has created a coronavirus pandemic resource page.
Clips
#1 — Coronavirus: 6 Tips for Parents
The coronavirus is producing a lot of anxiety, stress and worry for everyone. What happens to our bodies when we are under stress? How can parents restore a sense of safety for their children in such trying times? Here are 6 tips from Dr. Cantor.
#2 — Coronavirus: Signs of Children Under Stress
There are signs that children are under stress that everyone can learn to recognize. But children respond to stress in different ways depending on their individual histories. Here’s what to look for according to Dr. Cantor.
#3 — Coronavirus: Finding a Vaccination for Stress
Life as we know it has been upended; schools, churches, theaters, stadiums and businesses closed. Children miss their teachers and their peers and their normal routines. So how are we going to create new ways for young people to be safe, safe physically to be sure, but also emotionally during such stressful times? How can children help? Here are some ideas from Dr. Cantor.
#4 — Coronavirus: Do the Right Thing
We know we are supposed to practice social distancing and scrupulous hygiene to protect ourselves and others from coronavirus. But knowing what’s right and doing the right thing are not the same, especially when it comes to children. Dr. Cantor explains why.
#5 — Coronavirus: Restoring a Child’s Sense of Safety
How to help children know that one day, they and we will be okay again. There are several ways, says Dr. Cantor.
#6 — Coronavirus: Our North Star
Everyone has a super power to help children through this crisis, says Dr. Cantor. We have to look to our North Star.
Also listen to the podcast here.
