What to say to someone in distress. | Dena Huisman | TEDxUWLaCrosse

UWL Associate Professor of Communication Studies Dena Huisman presents on "How to communicate support to someone in distress" during a TEDxUWLaCrosse presentation April 19 at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The theme of the event was Renewal. The need for social support has become more visible to us during the COVID 19 pandemic as we learned how to cope with isolation and health scares. While the need for support in troubled times is often significant, research often finds that our satisfaction with the support we receive is less than ideal and that people often don’t know what to say to others in distress. This TEDxUWLaCrosse talk will discuss how we can improve our connections to people through more conscious and deliberate communication choices that meet the individual and relational needs of loved ones needing support. The talk will discuss how cultural norms and expectations can help or hinder our success in relating meaningfully as humans experiencing challenges, and how careful attention to each other can overcome potential barriers to meaningful support. Dr. Dena Huisman is a scholar of interpersonal communication who studies social support. She focuses particularly on support for socially challenging topics, such as grief, mental health, and identity marginalization. She is a strong advocate for racial, gender, and sexual equality, and her work focuses on how our support can be rooted in equity and respect. She also teaches courses in public speaking.

[annac]

That was excellent! The reformed tool kit and emotional connection with your own loss makes it both a memorable and useful talk.

[beckybrockman]

Such a powerful presentation! And wonderfully useful information. Professor Huisman touches the heart!