Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.
A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.
This is a special episode; not only are we celebrating our 50th podcast show, but this week is also a first! It's the first time we've done a collaboration/crossover episode with another podcast. The host of "Code Three Industries" Nick Lopez kindly agreed to jump on, along with podcast favourite and returning guest Josh Bailey.
Navigating three different time zones (LA, Boston and Brisbane) Nick, Erin and Josh have been in contact offline, but felt compelled to jump on and have a conversation about the impact and aftermath of LODD for those in the First Responder community. It comes on the heels of a tragic incident in Australia, where two members of Victoria Police were murdered and a third was injured, but thankfully survived. (At the time of this podcast being released, the offender is still at large).
This loss hit close to home, as not only are Josh, Erin and Nick all former police officers themselves, the members lost are from Erin's former police force. So given the fact all three are former police officers and have all ventured down the path of mental health since leaving their respective departments, they felt compelled to have a conversation, not about the incident itself, but as a starting point of how it can affect individuals, departments and the law enforcement community overall.
Nick was an officer with the LAPD, before leaving to become a Clinical Therapist. Josh is a former Australian Defence Force Veteran and Federal Police Officer, before becoming a Provisional Clinical Psychologist.
They discuss some common reactions in the days, weeks and months after an incident like this occurs, the lasting mark it can leave on a department, the fear a community can experience when an offender isn't apprehended immediately, the impact of cultural competence when it comes to First Responders mental health assistance and how it's important to find adaptive ways to cope and support one another in the aftermath.
This conversation comes from a place of respect, support, compassion and grief, for those not only reeling from this tragedy in Victoria, but for the others that occur frequently in the USA and policing community abroad.
We hope you find something beneficial from this conversation that we felt compelled to share with both our audiences.
As former police officers, now all working in the mental health and wellness field, we want to be a part of the solution. Helping to break down stigma and decades of cultural barriers within First Responder fields, to acknowledge it's common to experience a mix of emotions and challenging psychological hardships as a result of the work we do. We are 3 similar yet different concepts of what support can look like; there are many more available to you and we feel it's important to showcase that.
Reach out to any of us if you require assistance in finding the help that's right for you.
Nick: @codethreeinductries
Josh: @joshs_psychology_
Erin Jane:
Email: info@erinjanecoaching.com
Website: https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching
Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695
YouTube Ep: https://youtu.be/gT2gJM3r2OQ
Find "Holding Space with Erin Jane"; every Tuesday & Thursday 2-4pm EST on The Thin Line Rock Station!
Listen here: https://www.thethinlinerockstation.com/
