Recovery Diaries In Depth
Welcome to Recovery Diaries In Depth; a mental health podcast that creates a warm, empathic, and engaging space for discussions around mental health, empowerment, and change. Executive Director and podcast host Gabe Nathan brings a unique combination of lived experience with mental health challenges, years of independent mental health and suicide awareness advocacy, and an understanding of the inpatient psychiatric millieu as a former staff member at a psychiatric hospital. This extensive background helps him navigate complex and nuanced conversations with a diverse array of guests, all of whom are vulnerable and engaged; doing their utmost to eradicate mental health stigma through advocacy, storytelling, and open conversation.
Guests who have previously contributed a mental health personal essay read their essays aloud during the podcast and then chat with Gabe about what has changed in their lives since their essays were published on the site. By engaging in deep discussions with people living with mental health challenges like bipolar disorder, trauma histories, addiction issues, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive or eating disorders, Recovery Diaries in Depth further carries out Recovery Diaries' mission to #buststigma by showing people that they are not alone, instead of just telling them. This mental health podcast features guests from all over the world and, while their own personal experiences are unique, the human experience is what unites, inspires, and connects. Subscribe, like, share, and enjoy!
Recovery Diaries In Depth is supported in full by the van Ameringen Foundation.
Recovery Diaries In Depth
Police Officer Trauma & PTSD: Officer James Jefferson | RDID; 202
Officer James Jefferson, an 18-year police service veteran and wellness coordinator in Canada, is done with the "blue wall of silence." He speaks openly, candidly, honestly, and earnestly about mental health issues in law enforcement, and the series of events that almost resulted in him killing himself with his service weapon. Why? To help other officers who are struggling, just like he did.
On a wintry night, years ago, James and his partner responded to a homicide-in-progress call. The suspect advanced on the officers, refusing to drop his knife and James and his partner were forced to use lethal force. It was ruled a clean shoot, but that didn't help ease James's mind. He began to fell apart, he began to use drugs and alcohol. He threw caution to the wind, engaging in risky, dangerous behaviors, hoping he would be killed in the line-of-duty and be valorized a hero. He put his gun to is head, like so many other police officers do. Thankfully, James didn't pull the trigger. He got help. And now he's helping others.
In our candid conversation with James, we put police culture under the microscope and examine its many faults, how its archaic and stigmatizing attitudes towards mental health contribute to officers, and retired officers, taking their own lives. James knows this world all-too-well and, as a wellness officer, he is part of the change that is so desperately, and we're so grateful that he is. Listen to this engaging conversation, and share it with someone you love; whether they wear a badge or not.
Conversations like the ones on this podcast can sometimes be hard, but they’re always necessary. If you or someone you know is struggling, please consider visiting wannatalkaboutit.com.
