Experts Matter. Find Yours.
Connect for media, speaking, professional opportunities & more.
Don’t Neglect Spiritual, Mental Health During this Time of Health Crisis, Baylor Expert Says
In a difficult and ever-changing time of crisis surrounding the spread of coronavirus, the basic needs of health and safety come first. But as these basic physiological needs are met, the more advanced care for spiritual and mental health can remain overlooked or ignored altogether. Baylor University’s Holly Oxhandler, Ph.D., LMSW., associate dean for research and faculty development and assistant professor the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, is an expert on mental health, primarily anxiety and depression, as well as religion and spirituality in clinical practice. In this Q&A, she shares tips and resources to help unhook from the baser instincts of fear and anxiety, even momentarily, to monitor and care for spiritual and mental health needs. Q: During a crisis, why do spiritual and mental health needs tend to be overlooked or ignored? A: In the midst of a crisis, our natural reaction is to go into a fight-or-flight response to the situation. Our most basic needs must be met, such as finding a sense of safety, and our bodies are doing what they were designed to do: to protect us. For example, if we were to encounter a bear on a hiking trail, our sympathetic nervous system would be activated to meet the basic need of keeping us safe. Our spiritual and mental health are not primary needs in that moment of crisis. If we were to run from that bear and reach safety, our emotions would eventually become regulated, our breathing would become normal, and we could return to a generally balanced way of being that allows for attention to our spiritual and mental health. However, we are in a prolonged moment of crisis surrounded by uncertainty, constantly evolving news updates and daily threats to our and loved ones’ safety regarding our health, finances and sense of normalcy. In this state of constant stress, it can be really hard to unhook from the fight-or-flight response and remember to tend to our spiritual and mental health. Q: How can people tend to their spiritual health during this time of crisis? A: In this moment, most of us are being forced to be still and/or surrender the illusion of control in ways we have never faced before. In this stillness, our spiritual practices can help remind us of a divine Love that is with us through each moment, but we must intentionally set time aside to practice them. Plus, many research studies have shown healthy, positive spiritual practices have the potential to support our mental and physical health. One thing that’s very important, especially in the midst of this crisis, is that we do not spiritually bypass what’s happening. It may be tempting to want to jump to hope and ignore the pain, but to the best of our ability, our faith traditions teach us we must sit with and feel the grief rooted in the overwhelming change and loss we and our neighbors are facing. As Fr. Richard Rohr says, “If we do not transform the pain, we will most assuredly transmit it – usually to those closest to us.” We must be with the fear and uncertainty, grieve the loss of life as we knew it a few weeks ago, pray the psalms of lament, and feel the freedom to wrestle with and/or cry out to God in ways we read about others doing so in our sacred texts. The important thing is that each of us engages in something tied to our faith, regardless of what we believe in, and to be consistent in the practice, continually learning to surrender that sense of control we’re all finding ourselves learning to do right now. Spiritual Health Tips Prayer Reading our sacred text Meditation Centering prayer (my personal favorite, which teaches us silence, solitude and stillness) Breath prayers (here are some examples) Engaging in creativity (music, dance, art) as an act of worship Practicing gratitude Seeking beauty in the mundane Yoga Journaling Especially in this time of increased isolation, I would recommend inviting others into these practices for a sense of solidarity and community, including those within our home or via social media, video conferencing or by phone. Q: How can people tend to their mental health needs? A: The first practice I would recommend is to pause and breathe deep for 4-5 seconds, noticing your belly rise instead of your chest, and breathe out for 6-7 seconds. The second would be grounding. When our brain is flooded with information and emotion, it is hard to stay present. In grounding, we take a deep breath and ask ourselves five questions to return to the present moment: What do I smell right now? What do I taste? What do I see in front of me? What can I touch and feel the surface of? What do I hear? A third recommendation would be to get outside as often as you can and, ideally, into some sunlight. I would also recommend the practice of tuning into our bodies. For many of us, it can be difficult to pay attention to what our bodies are trying to tell us, in the same way our thoughts and emotions communicate with us. Especially now, pay attention to the tension in your neck, the overall exhaustion, the pain in your arm muscles, the tightness in your chest, or any other experiences you notice by tuning in. Your body may be trying to tell you to spend less time watching the news (maybe cut back to 1-2 times a day), to take a nap or to move it and exercise. Last, and perhaps most importantly, do not hesitate to reach out for help if you are noticing changes in your appetite, sleep, mood, thoughts or feelings. Stay in communication with loved ones but just as you would seek a medical doctor for a broken arm, seek a therapist when you notice changes in your mental health. Many therapists are quickly adapting to telehealth services in this moment to meet growing demands and social distancing expectations. Some sites for finding a therapist include Psychology Today or HelpPRO, and if you or a loved one are deeply struggling, please reach out to the National Suicide Hotline or call 800-273-TALK (8255). Reaching out for help with your mental health is a sign of courage, not weakness. Q: During this time of crisis, what populations do you feel are most vulnerable to mental or spiritual health decline? A: Honestly, I think every single one of us are vulnerable to mental and spiritual health decline during this moment for varying reasons. As mentioned before, these parts of us are easily brushed aside when we’re most focused on ensuring our basic needs of safety and security are met. Still, there are a few groups I’m especially sensitive to. The first are the helpers on the front line facing far more need than resources, time or energy to meet those needs. These include our health care providers, social workers, therapists, grocery and restaurant employees, teachers, parents, nonprofit organizations, faith leaders, volunteers, community leaders, pharmacists, lab technicians, scientists and more. These helpers are at such high risk of burnout and my hope is that, to the best of their ability, they are caring for themselves holistically in order to care for others well. I’m also sensitive to a few other groups who are vulnerable to mental and spiritual health decline. First, older adults are the most religious cohort and are already at risk for depression and isolation even without a crisis, so I worry for them in light of the necessary social distancing. Second, in light of added pressures, those with various mental illnesses must continue to care for themselves via the medication or therapy they need. Third, I’m sensitive to those who are recovering from a substance or behavioral addiction and are now surrounded by overwhelming stressors that put them at a higher risk of relapse. Thankfully, recovery groups are now moving online and I would encourage those in recovery or remain plugged into a group. Q: Many people are unable to access a doctor or professional therapist to get help. What are some resources for those that may need free or low-cost options? A: There are a number of websites that can help individuals find a professional mental health care provider, such as a licensed clinical social worker, psychologist, counselor or marriage and family therapist. I mentioned Psychology Today, HelpPRO, and the Suicide Prevention Hotline above, but there are others. Better Help and Talk Space are two growing online therapy sites and Low Cost Help elevates providers with affordable rates. I also host a weekly podcast, CXMH: Christianity and Mental Health, which has a ton of episodes on various topics related to this intersection, including a recent one specifically on COVID-19. You can also contact your insurance provider to see who is in network or, if you do have a primary care provider, see if they have any recommendations. Your local faith communities may also have a list of mental health care providers to consider. There are also many organizations committed to providing resources, including the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the National Institute on Mental Health. Q: How can neighbors help neighbors and individuals help individuals outside of the professional or therapy setting? A: I really want to emphasize that, especially in this moment, we must practice extending grace, being still and holistically caring for ourselves so that we can care for others well. We can do our part to serve those who are serving others, even if that means practicing social distancing and stillness, while tending to our spiritual and mental health. Discerning what is ours to do in this moment to offer help, healing, hope and love to our neighbors as well as ourselves, and to help protect our helpers from burning out, will be critical in the days and weeks ahead. As Chris and Phileena Heuertz shared in their prayer, A Call to Solidarity During COVID-19: “You’re not alone. We’re in this together. We’ll do everything we can to help.” ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 18,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. ABOUT THE DIANA R. GARLAND SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work is home to one of the leading graduate social work programs in the nation with a research agenda focused on the integration of faith and practice. Upholding its mission of preparing social workers in a Christian context for worldwide service and leadership, the School offers a baccalaureate degree (B.S.W.); a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree available on the Waco or Houston campuses or online; three joint-degree options, M.S.W./M.B.A., M.S.W./M.Div. and M.S.W./M.T.S., through a partnership with Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business and George W. Truett Theological Seminary; and an online Ph.D. program. Visit www.baylor.edu/social_work to learn more.
Baylor Expert on Remote Work Shares 5 Key Tips to Make the Most of Working from Home
The international response to the COVID-19 public health crisis has led millions of workers to make home their new office as communities and organizations promote social distancing to slow the spread of the virus. For many individuals, this spring marks the first time they will have worked from home for a substantial amount of time. Sara Perry, Ph.D., assistant professor of management in Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business, an internationally-recognized remote work researcher and author of a 2018 study published in the European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, offers tips in five key areas for employees to consider as they make the most of working from home. “Research has given us some good empirical evidence of key areas that will help remote work be more successful,” Perry said. Create a physical work space. Perry: If it’s possible, we have to have a separate working space, especially if you can close the door to focus. This would be ideal, but if you can't do that, try setting up different workspaces around your home that are well-defined and that you can “close” at the end of the day to help maintain a balance in terms of your family and your work. Now, if you have kids in the mix as well, then I think we need to set up a workstation for them as well. It can be the kitchen table or the bar. Younger kids can have stations of their own, too – like the stations they would have in preschool. Some people even talk about making a standing desk with books, to be able to move your position throughout the day. Everyone in the family might even like to rotate around throughout the day, sharing the different work spaces. Think about how you can work outside, too, weather permitting. Adhere to a work schedule – and take breaks. Perry: We aren't going to have clear boundaries of time. We're going to have to make them. The best thing to do is to start with a schedule similar to what you would already be doing if you went to work. If you can try to stick close to the same schedule, you're going to find the transition easier. Don't start sleeping in and doing things completely differently — that will make the adjustment a lot harder. Take breaks. Research by my colleagues Emily Hunter and Cindy Wu found that optimal breaks come mid-morning, and it can set you up for the rest of the day. It’s important to get up and move away from the screen periodically. A short break can help preserve your focus and attention resources for the rest of the day. For your further well-being, you will need to turn work off at the end of the day, because no one is going to shut it off for you. Pick a way that you're going to do that, whether it's to put your stuff away, or by planning some sort of transition time that would replace what your commute would have done. Some people will call someone or listen to a podcast. For others, or a walk around the neighborhood provides something to transition and decompress. Think about what you would normally do (or want to do) and see if you can work that in for your own transition from work to family time. Connect with others. Perry: The change in physical environment is going to be a big change even for people who are used to working remotely. At work, you may feel a sense of connection to people even if you don’t even talk to them. You at least have their presence, and we’re going to miss that in the coming weeks. One of the biggest concerns in the remote work literature is isolation, and while individuals who have families at home might not feel isolated from people in general, we might feel isolated from our professional lives and identity. We’ll have to be more proactive about using technology in a way to stay connected while still remaining productive. We don’t want to have virtual meetings for the sake of meetings, but we might want to have some for the sake of connection. For leaders, check in and make sure people have resources and that they are doing okay as we all adapt to a virtual workspace. Try to be proactive about it. Maybe we have a video call simply to check in for 30 minutes at the end of the day or whenever, just try to stay connected. Help children and family adjust. Perry: With my children, I’m thinking about how to create some type of structure, taking lessons from our homeschool friends about how they set up their day. I’ve found that my children and my friends’ children get excited about reconstructing their own schedule from school at home. So, let them have some input about what their day should look like, and try to work your schedule in tandem or in parallel with that. Scheduling loose blocks of time for tasks throughout the day can help with this, too. Blocking off time can help you communicate, “for the next 30 minutes or the next hour, we’re all going to work on this activity at our separate stations, then meet and redirect. We know it's possible because a lot of schools have a model where students are self-directed. You give them direction and then they go do it. However, we also don’t want to over-schedule, or over-do anything. We need to enjoy the time that we have with them, and be grateful for that, and practice gratitude daily as we try to manage all of this.” Manage expectations. Perry: In light of everything that we're facing, it’s important to stay flexible. That’s true for leaders—really try to have flexibility and allow your employees to figure out how remote work best works for them. We can't micromanage from afar. We can check in, make sure everyone has resources, make sure people are doing OK. Some people need a little more of that than others, but we really need to just adapt and be flexible. It’s important that everyone should try to be realistic, be clear with expectations, but also try to be realistic about what's actually going to happen over the next several weeks. All of us are under a lot of stress, more stress than normal. So, we just have to have realistic expectations and recognize that all of us, and our leaders, are experiencing a learning curve. We need to think about the big picture as we roll this out, and really keep employee wellbeing as the number one consideration. Note: This interview is adapted from Dr. Perry’s interview on the Baylor Connections podcast. Visit the Baylor Connections website to listen to the full interview. ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 18,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. ABOUT HANKAMER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY At Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business, integrity stands shoulder-to-shoulder with analytic and strategic strengths. The School’s top-ranked programs combine rigorous classroom learning, hands-on experience in the real world, a solid foundation in Christian values and a global outlook. Making up approximately 25 percent of the University’s total enrollment, undergraduate students choose from 16 major areas of study. Graduate students choose from full-time, executive or online MBA or other specialized master’s programs, and Ph.D. programs in Information Systems, Entrepreneurship or Health Services Research. The Business School also has campuses located in Austin and Dallas, Texas. Visit www.baylor.edu/business and follow on Twitter at twitter.com/Baylor_Business.
Myth-breaking and COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – Manhattanville Expert Answers Your Questions
Information, news stories, articles and advice are coming at Americans from all sides these days when it comes to COVID-19, its spread, prevention, those vulnerable, and whether America should continue to shut down or carry on carefully. There’s a lot to know and it is vitally important that accurate, credible and reliable information is what’s being shared. That’s where the experts from Manhattanville College can help. Orhan Hakli, RN, MS-FNP-C, is an administrator in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Manhattanville College. He is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner in private practice who has worked in various areas of health care including medical-surgical nursing, cardiology, geriatrics, wound care, hyperbaric medicine, and primary care. Here are a few of the questions he has been facing in recent days from patients. Below, he breaks down some of the myths that are surfacing with facts. I heard drinking alcohol- especially Vodka- decreases my risk of getting COVID-19. MYTH- There is no credible evidence to support that alcohol consumption decreases the risk of COVID-19. Using hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol to clean your hands can be helpful. So, using hand sanitizers with 60% alcohol yes, drinking to prevent COVID-19 is a hard no. I heard coronavirus comes from animals. I have a dog at home. Should I get rid of him/her? MYTH- It is true that Coronavirus is common in animals but not in household pets, so cuddle away but wash your hands afterwards for personal hygiene purposes. If I go out, I will get sick MYTH- We recommend social distance, not social isolation. As long as you keep 6 feet from people, do not touch your mouth, nose, or eyes and wash your hands frequently, you should be fine. If I was in contact with someone who had the coronavirus, I should start taking antibiotics immediately. MYTH- This is a viral disease; antibiotics have no effects on viral diseases. They are effective only on bacterial infections. Getting products in the mail from China will make people sick. MYTH- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tells us that Coronavirus, like many other viruses, do not stay alive for very long especially on the product surfaces that are in transit for days. There are two major ways that the virus can spread. Either people who are in close contact (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes (which is the main way) or touching a surface or object that is contaminated with the virus then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. The second way is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Coronavirus can live up to two days on surfaces but loses its effect as time passes. Takeaway point - keep your 6-foot distance from people and do not touch your mouth, nose, or eyes after touching objects. I heard African-American people cannot get coronavirus. MYTH- The CDC clearly indicates that this is a virus that affects the respiratory system regardless of race. Everyone is at equal risk of getting COVID-19. If I have Coronavirus I will likely end up in the ICU and die. MYTH- The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that most people- in fact up to 80%- will recover on their own having mild to no symptoms at all. How the disease will affect you depends on age and other comorbidities you may have. Orhan Hakli is available to speak with media about the virus as a contagious disease, prevention, myths, strains on the health care system and public health measures. He has recently been advising the food service industry on measures they can take to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. To book an interview – simply click on his icon to arrange a time.
While a huge focus is on health and mortality during the coronavirus outbreak, not to be forgotten are those who are grappling with death from natural causes, diseases, accidents and crime. Funerals and visitations are the customary means of support friends and loved ones — but restricted travel and social distancing poses challenges. Here are suggestions about grieving from Candi Cann, Ph.D., associate professor in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core of the Honors College and author of “Virtual Afterlives: Grieving the Dead in the Twenty-first Century”; and Bill Hoy, clinical professor of medical humanities and author of “Do Funerals Matter: The Purposes and Practices of Death Rituals in Global Perspective.” Q: Funerals and visitations are such a time of hugs, hand-holding, prayers, closeness — simply being there. How might travel restrictions, social distancing and concerns for personal health interfere — and how can family and friends be supportive? CANN: I think live-streaming of funerals is a great option and allows people to be present from a distance. Most companies also offer virtual guestbooks where one can leave a teddy bear or flowers, light candles, etc., online in honor of the person. Many cemeteries are also moving online so that each gravestone will have a corresponding virtual memorial, filled with the deceased person's playlist, videos, pictures and memories. Of course, as with all technology, the capability of funeral homes varies from business to business, but my guess is that from an industry perspective, we are going to see a jump in virtual and online offerings as the funeral industry tries to stay relevant and contemporaneous. Also, if presence is important, one can choose disposal options that allow for the return of the deceased into the home, such as being cremated into cremains, or made into a diamond that one wears, or a record that one plays. You can insert cremains into the vinyl and make a record, or a glass sculpture with the cremains mixed into the glass. So, you don't have to be separated from the dead. HOY: I agree that live-streaming may have to suffice, but our experience shows it is a poor second choice. From time immemorial, we have seen that physical presence is vital, and I think that is what is so alarming to me about some of the current discussion in our culture. I was taking care of AIDS patients in Los Angeles in the 1980s when we saw some of the same disenfranchisement of grief, requiring direct cremation of the body and in some cases, forbidding the gathering of people in funeral rituals. It did not turn out to be a psychosocially sound practice and is creating a high level of concern on the part of my clinical colleagues. Q: Have there been times in history when this has been an issue as well when it comes to contagious disease? Have people taken safeguards before? HOY: Two notable examples were the 1918-19 Influenza Epidemic — unfortunately misnamed Spanish Flu — and the 2014-15 Ebola crisis in West Africa. In both cases, high numbers of dead coupled with high levels of contagion caused health authorities to create quarantines and eliminate gatherings such as funerals. Recent research out of the Ebola epidemic indicates that at least in some cases, these measures were counterproductive in that “secret” burials took place and those who had money were able to bribe officials to look the other way. I think we want to be especially vigilant to make sure we are being economically and socially just in the policies we put in place. Fortunately, we do have media to help bridge those gaps now that were not available in those other events, so that will almost certainly help. I am going to stop far short, however, of suggesting that media even approaches a point of providing the same psycho-social-spiritual benefit that sharing a space, rubbing shoulders and sharing tears do. CANN: The most recent epidemic in the United States was the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s. By October of 1995, there were over half a million cases of people with AIDS, and many people did not know how to treat or interact with those who were infected. And just this month, a second person was cured of HIV with a stem cell transplant. I have lots of faith in our scientists and that they will be able to create an effective vaccination or cure for COVID-19. Q: Besides finding new or different ways to express support and love to others, what about oneself? We hear about self-isolation – what about self-comfort and self-care in other ways? HOY: This is a great time for self-reflection. What I am doing for myself are the things I recommend to others. Besides being vigilant about what I eat and getting out in the fresh air, I am taking care of myself by limiting my exposure to media. I have not been a big user of social media anyway, but I recommend to folks to be very careful about that because the COVID-19 misinformation is rampant. Instead, I check the National Institutes of Health website once each day for scientific updates, and I have taken all the news update alerts off my phone. Instead, I am trying to give more time to talking with family and friends by phone and video conferencing, journaling and reading. Of course, like other professors, I am spending time talking with students and getting ready to take my classes online next week. In my personal Bible study time, I decided I would spend some time looking at Scripture passages that address fear and have particularly enjoyed hearing God’s perspective on this. CANN: I think one of the hardest things about death is that life goes on without the dead. The birds keep chirping, the flowers keep blooming, people keep being worried about the most mundane matters — and that's difficult when a part of our world has stopped. But this is also what is beautiful about death. It forces us to see life all around us — its fragility, its constancy and its beauty. So, for me, self-care in grief is talking about death, talking with others about the one we lost and living again — in honor of the person who died who doesn't get to be here living anymore. As we embrace life, I strongly recommend that people reach out to friends and family. Social distancing does not need to mean social isolation. I'm also going on regular walks and spending time outside. We need to stay healthy and in shape during this time. Some people are finding it fun to do group-gaming and discovering new ways to spend time with family and friends either virtually in games or via video. Catholic churches are offering drive-through Eucharist and confession, Protestant churches are live-streaming their services and youth groups, Islamic mosques are live-streaming prayers and Buddhist temples are live-streaming meditation sessions. ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.
Public health crises such as COVID-19 — in which people may feel powerless and receive conflicting information — can lead to a flare-up of unsafe religious sentiments, says Baylor University epidemiologist Jeff Levin, Ph.D., who cites past persecution of religious and ethnic minorities who were blamed unfairly for spreading disease. While some possibly unreliable projections about COVID-19 are being spread, containment — and common sense — are key, Levin says. In addition, research shows that maintaining one’s spiritual life can help people remain strong in the face of health challenges and encourage them to reach out to help others. Levin is University Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health, director of the Program on Religion and Population Health in Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion and adjunct professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University School of Medicine. He recently lectured at Duke about the COVID-19 outbreak, on infectious disease pandemics in general and on religious dimensions of the present crisis. In this Q&A, he speaks about these issues. Q. What do you feel is the most important message that needs to get out about the coronavirus outbreak? LEVIN: There are still folks out there saying, “Ah, this is nothing” or “It's all hype.” I'm not that guy. This is very serious. Still, I believe that some misinformation is getting out there that's scaring people, and that's not a helpful thing. I have some concerns about how the facts and nuances of this outbreak have been communicated to the public. In the past few weeks, the news and internet and social media have been inundated with some very alarming projections, some of which in my opinion may be off perhaps by an order of magnitude. This is due in part to mistaken calculations being made by people, including M.D.s who don't understand the parameters of disease transmission or the concepts that epidemiologists use to track outbreaks. This also includes some government officials who are miscommunicating issues regarding risk, pathogenesis and prognosis, and this information is then being picked up by the media and projected out to the general public. Suddenly, even laypeople people are throwing around very technical epidemiologic jargon — exposure, infectivity, case fatality, herd immunity, transmission, incubation period, flattening the curve — without knowing exactly what these words mean or how they’re used, and some faulty messages are getting out. There’s a pressing need for responsible public voices who can help separate the signal from the noise, but those voices seem to be scarce. But regardless, whatever the projections are — good, bad, or ugly — so much hinges on containment. If we manage that properly, such as through all the good advice we’ve been given about social distancing, washing our hands, disinfecting surfaces and so on, we'll get through this with minimal — a relative term — casualties. If we ignore this advice, things can go south in a hurry. It only takes one clinical case getting loose in the community to create a secondary outbreak. Noncompliance can easily create an army of “Typhoid Marys” in communities across the country. In any outbreak due to any pathogenic agent, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, there are things we can do, one, to break the chain of transmission and, two, to minimize the damage to ourselves. There’s a public health response and a personal response. The public health effort is focused on how to limit exposure and transmission, which is exactly what needs to happen. There are policies that we should follow as far as our own behavior and social interactions and as far as the environment we live in where the virus is circulating. We’ve all become familiar with what these things are. But there’s the other side of the coin. In epidemiologic terms, exposure does not imply infectivity. Not everyone who is exposed to the virus will become infected. Infectivity in turn does not imply pathogenicity. Not everyone who is infected, who receives a positive test, will become a clinical case, will become sick. And finally, not everyone who comes down with COVID-19 and manifests signs and symptoms of disease will have a virulent enough case that will require intensive medical care or hospitalization, and only a minority of those will lose their life. Most, we believe, will recover just fine. So the folks who are at risk of a very serious outcome are a subset of a subset of a subset of folks who are exposed to the virus. The problem right now is that we don’t have a definitive grasp on these percentages. So we all need to do everything that we can not just to limit exposure and transmission but to strengthen ourselves to withstand the natural course of infection and disease. Epidemiologists call this “host resistance.” Q. What can we do to strengthen our resistance to the infection and the disease? How does faith figure into this? LEVIN: We know from decades of research that so many things that we can do in our daily lives can help us to withstand and recover from illness. We can eat right — avoid junk food and overeating and consuming toxins. We should avoid smoking and abusing alcohol, we need to get enough sleep and manage our stress, we need to get some exercise and fresh air. We all know all of this, but in difficult times it’s easy to fall into inaction and depression, which itself can depress the immune system and impair our ability to stay healthy or to recover. One of the important things that we can do, and decades of research support this, is to maintain continuity in our spiritual life. Studies show that people with a strong ongoing faith commitment can marshal an ability to remain resilient and deal with stress and even have better medical outcomes. There is a longstanding research literature on the physical and mental health benefits of hope and optimism and positive attitudes, including in the context of one’s spiritual life, and including due to the tangible and emotional support that faith and being a part of faith communities give us. Faith matters. But this isn’t a magic bullet, and I want to be careful about overstating things. Folks who expect that by being a diligent Christian or Jew, believing in God, going to religious services — in person or online — showing strong faith, studying Scriptures regularly, that by doing all this somehow a pathogenic agent won’t enter their body or won’t cause signs or symptoms of disease — I think they’re laboring under some false expectations. They’re asking belief or faith to do things that are very difficult for me to envision. Maybe that’s just the scientist in me talking, although I too am a person of faith. On the other hand, our faith can indeed be part of keeping us strong and helping us to recover. But we ought to combine expressions of faith with careful efforts to limit our exposure and contain the outbreak, and to wisely seek medical care if we start to not feel well. The Bible encourages us with verses like “put on the full armor of God,” but at the same time if you stand out in the pouring rain you can’t sanely expect not to get rained on. Q. Will this outbreak lead to a resurgence of religious belief? Are there examples of this from history? LEVIN: Yes, there are, but not necessarily in a positive way. Times of crisis like this, especially when people feel powerless and are receiving conflicting information, can lead to a dangerous flare-up of unwholesome religious sentiments, including scapegoating. Look at the Black Plague of the 14th century. From a third to over one half of Europe perished, and the one constant in every country affected by the epidemic, besides the millions of bodies piling up, was a consistent and organized effort to massacre Jews, who were blamed for the disease. Lest we think those days are behind us, look at how we responded to the brief Ebola crisis in the U.S. in 2014, which ramped up hatred toward Mexican immigrants. Or consider the present outbreak, and the terrible animosity directed at Asian Americans. We aren’t immune to this kind of behavior, especially when we feel a sense of dread or hopelessness or a sense that our prayers to God have failed and that we are receiving a divine chastisement or punishment. It’s easy then to lash out and try to identify a “demonic” source for our travail and try to seek vengeance. There is also precedent for waves of apocalypticism, fear that the end of the world is nigh. We saw this during the 1918 influenza pandemic, and it gave rise to much of the end-times thinking that persists to the present day. So faith can sustain us, even benefit us physiologically, but it can also embitter us and make us do evil or drive us to become obsessed or crazy. Q. Are there other more positive ways that faith or spirituality come into play here? LEVIN: Sure, I can think of a few. There’s a bioethical dimension. Our faith traditions remind us of our obligations to others, especially those in grave need who lack the requisite material or social resources to care for themselves. This outbreak is a social-justice teaching moment for us as a society, and along with the medical and public health dimensions there are profound lessons in moral theology to learn and act on. Will we slip into a xenophobic fear-based response, self-absorbed with our own personal needs, or will we use this time, this enforced vacation for so many of us, to reach out to those in need? I have strong opinions about this. We have been given an opportunity to be selfless and act lovingly toward others, to represent the best of what faith has to offer. Or we can choose to reinforce the most selfish and hateful and ungodly aspects of what humans are capable of. This is a choice facing every one of us. There’s also a pastoral dimension here. Each of us, not just clergy or healthcare chaplains or pastoral counselors, has a role to play in offering consolation and reassurance to our fellow brothers and sisters. And also real, tangible assistance. Our family is Jewish, and we’re reminded in Exodus that we’ve been called to be “a nation of priests.” I think the same can be said for all of us, in our respective communities. We can also be thought of as a nation, or a community, of pastors. And in that role there is much for us to do. We can be a source of accurate information to counter the insidious memes circulating on social media. We can organize our neighbors and fellow congregants to provide help to people and families who need it. We can become leaders in our faith communities to help maintain study, prayer and worship activities while we are unable to attend church or synagogue. We can love and support those who are suffering and remind them of God’s love for us. These messages matter. Maybe it’s not realistic to expect them to cause a virus to not take hold or to become less virulent, but they can strengthen our ability to recover from this outbreak, both individually and as a community of people. ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.
A Letter to our Valued Customers
As I write this letter, I can’t help but think of how much the world we live in has changed over the course of a few short weeks. Like you, IDC Canada is carefully evaluating the ever-changing situation related to COVID-19. It is truly an unprecedented situation. The market is extremely fluid, and each day we are carefully balancing our commitment to providing the tools our customers need to Plan, Market and Sell, all the while mobilizing our entire Canadian workforce remotely. As a valued partner of IDC, we want you to know that we are here and we are ready to engage with your teams. Together we can navigate the “what’s next” in the Canadian ICT marketplace using our dedicated team of Canadian Analysts. The underpinning of IDC’s business has always been our data, our forecasts and our in-depth knowledge of the ICT markets. Be assured that our teams are working overtime to assess the impact on the Canadian ICT market, and more importantly, what the implications are to you, our valued partners. Many customers have also reached out to ask how to adjust their customer interactions and continue to drive their business forward. Marketers are under fire to find new ways to stay in touch with customers and target new prospects remotely. The good news is that IDC Canada has been providing effective virtual event services like webcasts, audio podcasts and other compelling assets for many years now. We offer a wide range of digital assets that will keep you in touch with your customers and help you generate leads. As we continue to learn more through monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak, we understand that “customer experience” in extraordinary times means working with our customers and partners in new ways. Now more than ever, we will navigate this situation together. If there are things you need from us or additional ways we can support you, please let us know. We remain committed to helping Canadian Businesses through this challenging time. Please look for more detailed insights on the effects of the COVID 19 virus on the Canadian ICT market in the form of IDC research documents and webcasts next week. Feel free to reach out directly to your IDC relationship manager or through our inquiry desk at askidc@idccanada.com at any time. Kind Regards and Stay Safe, Lars Goransson Managing Director, IDC Canada idc.com/ca
Is This New Potassium Metal Battery Design the Future of Energy Storage?
From cell phones, to solar power, to electric cars, humanity is increasingly dependent on batteries. As demand for safe, efficient, and powerful energy storage continues to rise, so too does the call for promising alternatives to rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which have been the dominant technology in this space. Led by Nikhil Koratkar, researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have discovered a way to overcome a persistent challenge known as dendrites in order to create a metal battery that performs nearly as well as a lithium-ion battery, but relies on potassium — a much more abundant and less expensive element. “In terms of performance, this could rival a traditional lithium-ion battery,” said Koratkar, an endowed professor of mechanical, aerospace, and nuclear engineering at Rensselaer. While metal batteries have shown great promise, they have also traditionally been plagued by accumulation of metal deposits, called dendrites, on the anode. Over time, Koratkar explains, the conglomerates of potassium metal become long and almost branch-like. If they grow too long, they will eventually pierce the insulating membrane separator meant to keep the electrodes from touching each other and shorting out the battery. Koratkar and his team found that by operating the battery at a relatively high charge and discharge rate, they can raise the temperature inside the battery in a well-controlled manner and encourage the dendrites to self-heal off the anode. The researchers previously demonstrated a similar method of self-healing with lithium metal batteries, but they found the potassium metal battery required much less heat to complete the self-healing process. That promising finding, Koratkar said, means a potassium metal battery could be more efficient, safe, and practical. “I want to see a paradigm shift to metal batteries,” Koratkar said. “Metal batteries are the most efficient way to construct a battery; however, because of this dendrite problem they have not been feasible. With potassium, I’m more hopeful.” This research, recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is just the latest development in Koratkar's contributions to battery research. He is available to discuss a range of possible futures for energy storage.
Baylor Gerontology Expert Shares Tips to Care for Aging Population During Coronavirus Pandemic
“This is not a vacation from caring; it is a time when caring is needed most of all,” social work professor says The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and lung disease are at a high risk for the coronavirus. The virus hit hard in late January at a nursing facility in the state of Washington, where a number of residents died. As a result, the CDC has recommended strong restrictions on visitors to long-term care facilities, and the health organization continues to preach limited physical contact and “social distancing” – creating intentional space of six feet or more between each person – to stem the spread of the virus. James Ellor, Ph.D., The Dorothy Barfield Kronzer Endowed Professor in Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, is an expert on working with older adults as well as disaster behavioral health. He said it’s important in this time of uncertainty to continue to support and minister to those older adults who are self-isolating in their homes and those in long-term care facilities. “Remember, no one stops caring about others just because germs are in the way,” Ellor said. “Express your caring in appropriate ways. This is not a vacation from caring; it is a time when caring is needed most of all. We also know that prayer is very important. Hold the person in prayer and let them know you are doing so.” In the following Q&A, Ellor shares tips on how to care for this population during this time. Q: What are some ways we can check on older relatives and neighbors without using physical touch and interaction? A: There is a fine line in this unknown time between caution and paranoia. Respect for each other’s boundaries is the critical value. It seems very awkward to want to affirm someone, yet not shake their hand. However, we need to use our words and ask what the other person is comfortable with, and by the same measure, let them know what you are comfortable with. At this point, the most obvious ways to check on people is through social media or paper and pencil. Drop them a note, call them on a phone, use other social media devices as appropriate. I would suggest that if you normally visit them, say on Fridays, be sure to continue to do that, albeit by phone or even just drop them a card. Q: If people have chosen to self-isolate or if they’re scared to venture out due to this health crisis, what are some ways people can help? A: Be consistent. If you have a pattern, continue the pattern. Remember the principles above. If the person is feeling out of control, talk quietly with them and offer them a card or other gesture of caring. Q: Can you explain the importance of personal interaction for people who are shut in? A: People with human contact simply live longer than those completely cut off from the world, with few exceptions. While about 15 percent of older adults are “shut in,” only about 5 percent are bed bound. That means that persons who are dependent on oxygen, for example, will be in their house, but not in bed. They depend on all of their outside contacts. Keep your normal visiting pattern, albeit with a card in the mail or phone call. If you are a member of a church, have the youth group use some of their extra “stay at home” time to make greeting cards intended to cheer up a person in your church or group that is home bound. Older adults like tactile things, particularly if they are sensory-impaired. If you make a card, put a feather in it, or some other feel-good item. If you are purchasing a card, there are some that have things in them that you can feel, or even hear. Some cards will allow you to record a short message. Q: Since so many long-term care facilities now have strict rules about visitors, are there any ways that people can interact or show support to residents in a safe manner? A: Most facilities are cutting off all contact from the outside. Only their own staff, physicians and hospice nurses are being allowed in. Even social workers, chaplains and other clergy are being kept out. In the Waco area, physicians are being screened for a fever or cough and could be turned away. As such, phone calls, cards and letters are all important. Several facilities in this area have begun to put room numbers on the windows of their facility, so that family can come by and wave through the window. Persons in long-term care facilities, even those with dementia, will pick up on the anxiety of the staff and especially the TV, which is often on all the time. A person with dementia may not be able to understand the anxiety but will be anxious when others are anxious. This makes the job of staff that much harder. Q: Anything else you’d like to share? A: The workers at these homes have a much harder job now. Don’t hesitate to send them a card or a treat if it can be obtained safely. Staff, even the people at the door telling you that you can’t come in to see your loved one, have a tough job now and need extra support from everyone. ABOUT JAMES ELLOR, PH.D. James Ellor, Ph.D., serves as professor and The Dorothy Barfield Kronzer Endowed Professor in Family Studies in Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. works with older adults around issues of mental and spiritual health. He has served on the executive committee of the Midwestern Geriatric Education Center and provided education, counseling, and planning for individuals and groups who work with seniors. His research includes work in entrostomal therapy, hunger, the church as service provider, spiritual assessment, and intervention techniques with cognitively impaired older adults. ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 18,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. ABOUT THE DIANA R. GARLAND SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work is home to one of the leading graduate social work programs in the nation with a research agenda focused on the integration of faith and practice. Upholding its mission of preparing social workers in a Christian context for worldwide service and leadership, the School offers a baccalaureate degree (B.S.W.); a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree available on the Waco or Houston campuses or online; three joint-degree options, M.S.W./M.B.A., M.S.W./M.Div. and M.S.W./M.T.S., through a partnership with Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business and George W. Truett Theological Seminary; and an online Ph.D. program. Visit www.baylor.edu/social_work to learn more.
These are worrisome times, and as the public takes personal precautions – there are some aspects that may seem out of a person’s personal control. Shopping is one of these situations. Despite calls for social distancing and staying inside, the reality is Americans will need to venture out to shop, bank and carry on with some aspects of life during this outbreak. Dr. Felicia Wu is the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Michigan State University. In addition, Dr. Wu currently serves as an expert adviser to the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives of the United Nation. She is an expert on food safety and has the answers to some popular questions being put forward by Americans. Question: Grocery stores are busy, and there are often long lines to get in and at check out. What are the risks? Dr Wu: No matter what, there are risks associated with going out into locations where many people may gather. The risks are that one could become infected with SARS-Cov-2 by standing near an infected person who is coughing or sneezing (this is the most likely route of transmission), or that one would touch a surface upon which an infected person coughed or sneezed recently. Question: How can seniors stay safe in this situation and can the risk be substantially reduced for the elderly and other vulnerable people? Dr Wu: The safest option, if it is possible, is to have more vulnerable individuals (elderly, immunocompromised, chronic heart and lung diseases) ask someone else who is not part of a vulnerable group to do the shopping for them. If that is not possible, then I do think it is a good idea for grocery stores to have dedicated hours that are for more vulnerable populations to shop – ones in which there will be fewer people, and where cleaning can take place beforehand. They need to consider the following: what hours those would be, and are those hours feasible for the elderly and others? Will they give instructions about how far people should stay away from each other? Will they wipe down counters and other surfaces beforehand? All these practices would help reduce risk. Question: And once home shopping, what to do then? Dr Wu: At home, the elderly and other vulnerable populations should be careful to thoroughly wash any produce meant to be eaten without cooking. Cooking food thoroughly is an excellent way to reduce risk of foodborne pathogens. And for those working in retail and in grocery stores? Question: Are there any sanitary recommendations for those who are cleaning these shopping areas? Dr Wu: The CDC has helpful resources about effective cleaning agents for coronavirus that includes cleaning, disinfecting, ensuring surfaces are safe, what materials to use and proper prevention at work and at home. Lastly, to the workers who are cleaning these shopping areas: We are grateful, and along with the recommended cleaning instructions above, these workers should wash their hands carefully beforehand and afterwards to ensure their own safety and the safety of others. Dr. Felicia Wu is an Expert in food safety, social network analysis, global health, risk assessment, economic models, environmental health risks, public health and has been sought out by national media for her expertise on the topic. She is available to speak with media regarding food safety – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview today.
Coronavirus and food safety: DO NOT SHARE FOOD WITH OTHERS!
"It is crucial, even within families, to make sure not to share food that someone else directly bit into or drank," says Dr. Felicia Wu, the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Michigan State University. Dr. Wu also currently serves as an expert adviser to the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives of the United Nations. “Even though COVID-19 (specifically SARS-CoV-2) is not typically airborne (therefore, you don’t have to worry about contracting it from breathing air unless an infected person coughed near you), it is droplet-borne. That is why someone infected with this virus and coughing, sneezing, or spitting close to you would increase your risk of becoming infected. For that same reason, although it sounds a bit disgusting to discuss, people transmit their saliva onto the food they eat and the beverages they drink, which may subsequently contain SARS-CoV-2 if they are infected. Therefore, no sharing even with your own family.” Dr. Wu was also able to provide some very important expert insight on what may be common questions that are being asked in the community. TAKEOUT: Is takeout safe during the coronavirus outbreak? What about raw foods and salads? And, what are some steps you can take to make takeout safer? Dr. Wu: Yes, it is generally safe to order and eat takeout food, if you can trust the overall safety practices of the restaurant. Cooked food is usually free of pathogenic microbes; the only danger is if food workers somehow coughed or otherwise transmitted infected droplets to the food after it was cooked and before it was packaged for takeout. There is some risk to raw, uncooked foods if anywhere along the handling chain, an individual who was infected with SARS-CoV-2 coughed or otherwise transmitted droplets onto the food. If there are concerns regarding food delivery, customers can inform the restaurant that they would prefer to have the delivery person put the food on their porch and ring the doorbell. GROCERY STORES: There are lots of people in stores and hands touching food. How can you keep produce safe? Does washing help? And how long can the virus last on a package or on a piece of produce? Dr. Wu: This is definitely a problem and has always been a problem (we’re only becoming more concerned about it now). It is entirely plausible for a sick person to rub their nose or their mouth, or cough or sneeze into their hands, and then use those same hands to touch fruit, vegetables, etc. in the grocery stores. I would recommend washing all produce intended for raw (uncooked) consumption at home (and wash your hands, too!) with soap and water. There is a considerable amount of uncertainty with how long coronavirus can survive on different surfaces, so absolutely, it is a good idea to disinfect jars or cans of food before putting them away at home. Again, wash your hands afterwards. Dr. Felicia Wu is an Expert in food safety, social network analysis, global health, risk assessment, economic models, environmental health risks, public health and has been sought out by national media for her expertise on the topic. She is available to speak with media regarding food safety – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview today.