In order to meet the challenges of the pandemic, we turned to the most influential and insightful voices in resilience and mental health to find out what we can do on the ground to help protect our protectors that much more.
Who’s saying what about developing resilience in the police during Covid19? In this time of crisis, we can’t help but notice people stepping forward to help and encourage others to get through what we have to during Covid19. The Trauma Resilience in UK Policing project with Police Care UK and the University of Cambridge has been bringing lessons from neuropsychology and practices in mental discipline into the heart of operational policing for years. Now, the pressure is really on.
In April, Ruby Wax (who is patron of the UK’s Mindfulness Initiative, the world’s first Think Tank on Mindfulness in public policy) talks with Jamie Bristow (lead for the Westminster All Party Parliamentary Group on Mindfulness in Defence & Policing) on awareness in Covid19. During the chat, Ruby candidly asks, how do you try and convince the public to pay attention to their own thoughts? In answering that question, she refers to the work of neuropsychologist Dr Rick Hanson (listen in at 29:15/ 1.:02.21)
Dr Rick Hanson
Author of the book Resilient, Rick is a psychologist and New York Times best-selling author. He’s been an invited speaker at NASA, Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, and meditation centers worldwide. His books are available in 28 languages and also include Buddha’s Brain, and Just One Thing. His work has been featured on the BBC, CBS, and NPR. His book Neuro Dharma offers new insight into the human brain and resilience like never before.
Rick Hanson offers much guidance on Being Resilient During Covid19 and Dr Jess Miller had the unique privilege to speak with Rick to the issue of trauma resilience for the policing brain during the pandemic. The conversation was rich, exciting and productive, offering practical tips for officers on the front line -as well as sound advice for leadership on how to embed resilient policing brain traits into the wider culture of policing longer term.
Two productive outcomes from our excitable talk about resilience and creating mental space around adversity are our infographics, "How resilient is your thinking?" and "Making space for the brain".
The interview is good to listen to for anyone interested in practicing resilience and a summary is offered here.
Specific advice is also available here:
Covid19 Resilience for Chief Officers and leaders
Covid19 Resilience tips for officers and staff on the front line
