Recorded via Zoom
On this month’s CU on the Air, host Ken McConnellogue talks with Dr. Chip Benight, a psychology professor at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Dr. Benight researches the human adaptation from trauma. His work is focused on recovery from natural disasters including things like the coronavirus pandemic as well as manmade disasters, accident trauma, violence, bereavement and more.

* The roles of the Trauma Health and Hazard Center, the National Institute for Human Resilience and GRIT.
* Trauma Health and Hazard Center is focused on adaptation and understanding the human capacity for self-regulation following a major traumatic event.
* The UCCS National Institute for Human Resilience and the $8 million matching gift from Lyda Hill Philanthropies.
* Revamping the model to focus on strength and empowerment.
* What really does resilience mean?
* Factors that enable people to rebound from crises such as the coronavirus.
* GRIT: the greater resilience intervention teams.
* Training community volunteers to assist individuals struggling in light of the coronavirus.
* Who is taking the training? Everyone from medical support staff to teachers to pharmacists.
* Reaching out to help people to retarget what they do have control over.
* Focusing on things such as eating well, sleeping, taking care of themselves, physically being connected to their loved ones, etc.
* GRIT coaches are trained in providing resources to the population.
* GRIT resources are aimed at groups like first responders or mental health professionals, medical providers.
* What to look for to determine if someone you care about is struggling.
* What the long-term effects could be in many different aspects.
* The compassion and sadness surrounding people working on the front lines of COVID-19.
* How Dr. Benight became involved with resilience research.

Resources

* Trauma Health and Hazard Center
* National Institute for Human Resilience
* GRIT
* UCCS Department of Psychology
* Lyda Hill Philanthropies
* CU’s COVID-19 resources page