Undercover Mental Health

This is not a story of a kids journey to the NHL, it's about the will to live. Fighter - defying the NHL odds, by Aaron Polvatti. A story of grief, terror, personal tragedy, uncertainty, and happiness, this story will inspire you to dig deep within yourself to find your own strength to walk into your darkest moments and come out of them with a determination and mindset to achieve your wildest dreams. Think of this story as a guide to find the fighter inside of you. A guide that will push you to fight for what you want and what you love in life. To purchase Aaron’s book go to:

Fighter: Defying The NHL Odds: Volpatti, Aaron: 9781738700608: Books - Amazon.ca

When firefighters arrive to a scene, there is the adrenaline rush, the heat, the smoke, kicking in the door and then truly fighting the fire. 

Isabel Ruediger talks about how fulfilling the job can be, and after putting 30 years in, she left as one of the most respected leaders on the job. Leading the departments CISM team and helping her fellow firefighters when they were struggling, Izzy decided she wanted to continue making a difference and is now am established and very busy Clinical Counsellor.

What a career, what a human, what a story!

Dr. Mark Vu sees trauma everyday, if not in the emergency or in surgery, then on the streets as the Medic Lead for a Regional Police Public Safety Unit. A leader when it comes to educating Police Officers and Firefighters on (TECC) Tactical Emergency Critical Care.

Juggling work life / balance is really hard for everyone, Mark's unique outlook on life is super contagious, we should all be taking a page out of this mans recipe for happiness. This podcast was recorded in mid July before the Shelbourne bank incident, our thoughts and prayers go out to all the police officers and their families who were involved in that event. #gvertstrong

Dr. John Ogrodniczuk talks about anxiety over the holidays, breathing, sleep and visualizations can help you get through some of these stressful periods of your life, especially the holiday season. Heads Up Guys is an online resource created at the University of British Columbia and was created by Dr. John. 

Men will often talk about feeling angry or irritable rather than sad or down. These myths can also feel like handcuffs for men, preventing them from reaching out to others for even a little support. This contributes to many men not seeking support until their depression is very severe, if at all. This can place men at an increased risk of taking their own lives

HeadsUpGuys | Manage & Prevent Depression in Men

Breathing is one the most effective tools for Special Forces and Emergency Response Teams and now departments are realizing every first responder must understand how to control their breathing to be able to manage their fight-or-flight response. This training is being delivered across North America to reduce Post Traumatic Stress Injuries. Mindfulness is an effective and empowering solution for helping First Responders perform at their peak and more importantly recover after being exposed to trauma. Mindfulness is a tool used to enhance alertness, effectiveness and compassion and it has been used for thousands of years to relive stress and anxiety.

Kevin Briggs - known as the Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge; a dedicated California Highway Patrol Officer who courageously helped people who were having their worst day. Kevin might look like just another Cop, but the truth is, he is something special.  He went above and beyond the call of duty every time he was called upon on when responding to someone in need on the bridge. Many of the people who climbed back to safety on the platform of the bridge will tell you that Kevin Briggs didn't just listen, in many cases he created a vision for them on how they were going to restart their lives, and why it was important for them to continue to live.

Kevin shares the technique he used to gain trust, create conversation and then help people take the first step to starting a new life. Climbing back over the rail.

Lindsay Faas have spent over a decade working in the field of trauma therapy, and many of those years working one-on-one with First Responders and Front Line Workers struggling with the weight of their work. Her specialty and focus is working with Police, Fire Fighters, Paramedics, Corrections, Dispatchers, Nurses, and Military.

The guests on her podcast " Behind The Line" tell stories of tough calls, tough workplaces and organizational stress.

The goal of her work is to keep the conversation going, break down the stigma and help someone out of a tough spot.

Check out Behind The Line at Behind The Line Podcast for First Responders by Lindsay Faas (thrive-life.ca)

Many people wrongly assume that Post Traumatic Stress is inevitable for anyone exposed to trauma, this guest states that for him personally, it is clearly not the case. He speaks openly about how he has endured trauma both at home and on the front lines as a Firefighter but has never suffered from PTSI.  In fact he believes that the majority of firefighters are not affected by trauma and live mentally healthy lives.

Working in one of the busiest fire departments will definitely affect you and perhaps your family, but this 31-year veteran believes that he has retired from his career completely unaffected.

Steve and this guest have worked together for over 30 years, they have a very special relationship, only one struggled and the other did not. 

Listen to them talk about their different perspectives on mental health in fire service.

A 24-year-old school teacher speaks about the experiences of his generation. From the understated effects of flipping through emotions on social media and the pressures involved in secondary and post-secondary education, to the importance of travel and athletics in mainting mental wellness and stability.