James Brack is with the Bellevue Police Dept. and is leading their Wellness Program. Combining his own research and working with 1st Responder friendly professionals, new ideas and approaches to wellness are taking shape.  Proactive strategies  in the area of physical health are showing benefits in the emotional / mental health side. Rather than waiting for issues to develop, getting ahead of and preventing them is a much better payoff.  

Wah Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4602-wah-game-loop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Deanna Mehlhoff is a Nurse Practitioner specializing in Metabolic Syndrome--how it affects First Responders and working with them to identify the issues and correct them. 
If you don't know what this is or even think you do, take a listen. Our line of work is proven to affect our health. This episode is to serve as needed information for your well being and highlights the work of someone who is out there to help you.
Deanna's Phone is: 253-924-9955. Her website is:  nwhealthservices.org

Music in the episode:
Wah Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4602-wah-game-loop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In this episode Meggin Gardner discusses her experience as a 911 dispatcher and how the effects of cumulative stress brought her to a tipping point.  As the traumas began adding up, her body gave out warning signals. She "soldiered on" being the "tough girl" and self medicating, until the day she was no longer ok.  Meggin also gives us an insightful look into the in patient treatment facility she entered. She credits this treatment center and the therapies received for saving her life and marriage. 

Music in this episode:
Wah Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4602-wah-game-loop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Pat Ellis is the volunteer coordinator for Code 4 NW and a full time Chaplain for Puget Sound Fire.  In this episode you will get a glimpse into his life as a Chaplain.  We also discuss the current state of the professional mental health provider system. Code 4 NW is there for those in the 1st responder world. It is an all volunteer network of peers dedicated to be there for our sisters and brothers in need. 
Music in this episode:
Wah Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4602-wah-game-loop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

This episode contains explicit language and sensitive subject matter.  In 2019, more than 350 Police Officers and Fire Fighters died by Suicide.  This is the  story of a Police Officer who intended to take her life multiple times but through good fortune, one good supervisor who listened, and making a call to Code4 NW, did not carry it through. Her story includes losing her father to suicide, grieving for an officer who died in the line of duty, two attempts to talk to a fellow officer (including a peer support member) that were far from ideal, and even a call to a First Responder hotline (not Code4NW), that was of no help at all. 
Fortunately she was connected to a fantastic counselor and with the help of Code 4NW, got the help she needed at a treatment facility. Thank you Devon for your courage to share your experience so others who hear it may be helped.

Music in this episode:
Wah Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4602-wah-game-loop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In this episode Ben Lunak, a Police Officer in Colorado Springs Co. and a Marine Combat Veteran , describes his journey from military service to a career in law enforcement. His story includes a traumatic injury and the emotional fall out he experienced afterwards. Transitioning from civilian life to the police force was difficult. EMDR Therapy was instrumental in helping Ben heal. His story is inspirational for all of us and an example of how well EMDR can work.

Music:
Wah Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4602-wah-game-loop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Scott describes how his marriage was nearly destroyed because of his actions. He suffered deeply while trying to maintain at work. His wife and family suffered in the pain of betrayal. 
Fortunately, theirs is a story of transformation and hope. 

Music in this episode:
Wah Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4602-wah-game-loop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

We continue Scott's story. He speaks about the way he felt about himself, his actions, and how his internal pain was transferred to others--the word unfaithful is used. He describes an accident in a pursuit that could easily have cost him his life and how his attitude afterwards did not serve him well.

This is the first of three episodes with Police Officer Scott Rankin. You will hear his story which is quite interesting, and how unresolved emotional trauma can affect personal relationships.  In the 1st responder world, emotional trauma is "part of the job". We deal with it or it will deal with us. Some of us enter into our professions with "trauma eggs" already in our baskets. Then more are added as a result of our work. We can suffer from that and those we love can be casualties as well. Thank you to Scott for his honesty and strength to speak openly about this sensitive subject. 

Music in the episode:
 Wah Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4602-wah-game-loop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In this episode, we go on the dispatch side of the radio with Karina Putnam. She jokes that 911 dispatch is like a "high wire act with knives and fire and no safety net". This is an insightful interview about how this work and experiencing vicarious trauma changed her as a person--change she didn't expect or notice happening. Seeing a photo of herself where she appeared different, looked tired and angry, made her want to change how she felt. 
She volunteers for Code4 NW as a call receiver and is still dispatching while going to school to become a counselor for First Responders. This episode contains some explicit language.

Music in this episode:

Wah Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4602-wah-game-loop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license