Alternative Communication Systems and Strategies During Crises
Every person requires a specific approach to communication, and it is essential to understand individuals’ needs to build a stable relationship. There are many alternative strategies for communication during uneasy and crisis times. For instance, recent gadgets can be used to avoid personal meetings and ensure that an individual feels comfortable. Moreover, according to James & Gilliland (2017), social media can be a good alternative to the traditional way of communication as messengers are allowed to chat distantly.
Social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram can be used by people who want different conversations. Community-based networks can also be beneficial in finding a substitute for ordinary communication between strangers. People can find friends in groups with the same interest in art, dancing, or computing. Every individual should understand their unique communication preferences when facing a crisis to ensure that their surroundings find the right approach to provide support.
Evaluating the Most Effective Crisis Communication Methods
One of the most effective communication methods during a crisis is social media. During COVID-19, people in many countries were forced to stay locked in their homes. Many mental issues started developing during this uneasy time. However, social media chatting and the ability to join calls by visiting a different country became beneficial in supporting a stable level of global health (Rheumatol, 2020).
Even though social media is becoming popular yearly, it might not apply to remote populations and older adults. Ham radio networks are also becoming popular in developed countries as many volunteers are skilled in setting up and supporting communications links and inviting a broader audience to chat (Hernanzed et al., 2020). This strategy was as successful as social media messaging and calling during the pandemic.
Identifying Vulnerable Populations in Crisis Situations
The most vulnerable populations in different crises are older adults and schoolchildren. Retired individuals may lack knowledge of communication online. Therefore, this audience should be achieved through TV and community outreach through mobile or home phones. In this case, children might be more trained to use social media, but it might damage their health conditions.
The young body is more vulnerable to mental issues, and it might be problematic to support communication with friends. Therefore, during the COVID-19 crisis, parents could stay home with their children and ensure they attend online classes daily (Riohagen et al., 2020). This practice helped control child behavior and spend more time discussing hyperinflammatory shows and how they can be avoided.
Strategies for Effective Communication with Vulnerable Populations
People with disabilities are also subjected to communication problems during unpredictable situations in the world or in their lives. Braille and sign language interpreters can be trained to visit homes and provide care to reach this community. Non-English speakers can also be considered a vulnerable group as information might be misunderstood, and the availability of translators might be limited. Crisis times like COVID-19 hurt low-income communities as many people started losing their jobs.
In other crises, this group might be negatively influenced again. In this case, churches and community centers can reach these people to provide free benefits when they are available. Finally, remote, isolated homeless people stay vulnerable to crisis and communication as they do not receive vital updates. Boosting collaboration with these people is essential to ensure that everyone remains aware of the world’s problems.
References
Hernandez, E., Bering, E. A., Pessoa, A. G. S. S. R. (2020). Radio frequency research during COVID-19. American Geographical Union. Web.
James, R. K., & Gilliland, B. E. (2017). Crisis intervention strategies (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Rheumatol, J. C. (2020). Social media in the times of COVID-19. Ashish Goel. Web.
Riphagen, S., Gomez, X., & Gonzalez-Martinez, C. (2020). Hyperinflammatory shock in children during COVID-19 pandemic. Correspondence, 395(10237), 1607-1608. Web.
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