Social distancing, teleworking with children at home, and non-stop media reports of the coronavirus pandemic have left many feeling out of sorts.

In the midst of this national crisis, Robins helping agency experts are reaching out to remind people that the base and surrounding community has resources available to help you not only keep your head above water, but thrive during these uncertain times.

Charisse Bruce, Robins’ Community Support coordinator, said people need to remember that Robins’ helping agencies are a vital resource for them, especially during this time.

“We want to ensure our families are taken care of and our military and civilians have what they need in order to remain resilient and safe,” she said.

Among the many resources Robins offers, Bruce said Integrated Resilience Training Assistants and Master Resilience Trainers are valuable sources of help within units at the base.

“These folks have the knowledge and skill set to teach others about different resilience coping skills, and they are plugged into the base helping agencies and Integrated Resilience and Prevention Office to be able to get you quick assistance,” she said.

Bruce said people should reach out to their unit first sergeants and IRTAs for help.

Community Resilience coordinators are also a good resource for Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex workers to get the help they need, Bruce said.

Additionally, Robins has created a two-page Team Robins Military & Civilian Routine and Crisis Guide that offers on and off base helping agency information to help people during the COVID-19 crisis.

Stuart Bapties, Robins’ Violence Prevention Integrator, said supervisors play a key role in helping people in their organizations as well.

“Supervisors should consider using technology to connect,” he said.  “If some of your folks are not teleworking or struggle with a consistent VPN connection, have supervisors create a text group to communicate with their folks. Short touch-base messages can boost connectedness.”

Bapties said if supervisors need ideas, they can message the helping agencies’ Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/resprev/.

As the country continues to endure the COVID-19 crisis, it’s important to stay connected, Bruce said.

“Staying connected to each other at this time, whether that is through phone or video conferencing, is so important,” she said.  “Many people have added stressors due to the current crisis; for example, teleworking while kids are home, homeschooling children, possible reductions in income, health concerns, fear of the unknown, etc.  We have to know what those stressors are,              so we have to stay engaged with our people in order to help.” 

In addition to helping agency resources, people themselves are often a source of help for others.

“Everyone can be a good wingman by treating one another with dignity and respect,” said Master Sgt. Kristal Lane, Integrated Resilience Program manager at Robins. “Look out for one another, check-in, and listen non-judgmentally. Remember your core values and be empathetic.”

Bapties said the Integrated Resilience and Support Office is in daily contact with both on- and off-base resources and is consistently scouring all avenues available to provide individuals with ways to stay connected, fun and often free online activities for individuals, kids and families, as well as posting information on how to stay resilient and practice self-care. 

The information will be posted on the Integrated Resilience and Prevention Office Facebook page, as well.

Bapties said people should consider joining the page and joining the discussions on how to take care of our mental, physical and emotional resilience, while we are learning new and creative ways to work on our social resilience during the current crisis.

Whether you’re serving the mission in your work centers or teleworking from a distance, you are not alone and there are resources available to help you.