The Paramedic Podcast: Season 1, Episode 9

Today, I have another incredibly resilient and knowledgeable man on the show. This guest has been a pioneer in his field for over 20 years and has been researching his area of expertise when it certainly was not of popular opinion. Challenging, and rightly so, years of controversial and less efficacious ways to treat and manage major mental ill health conditions, particularly those relating to trauma and frontline workers such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and suicidality. Today I welcome onto the show no other than Professor Jim Lagopoulos, the director of Thompson Insitute, located at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia which is a world-class hub for research, teaching and clinical services for Australia's most pressing mental health issues. This institute last year has been allocated $12.2 million from the Federal budget, $8.3 million of which is going towards establishing the National PTSD Centre which will be the hub of clinical and technical expertise in treatment for trauma-related mental health conditions. Join me as Jim and I discuss changes in brain chemistry, neuroscience, neuroimaging, ketamine in the treatment of PTSD and what it looks like tackling mental ill health from and chemical and biological perspective. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Today I welcome onto the show Jeff Sych, Jeff is a registered psychologist who has dedicated his private practice to the wellbeing and recovery of safety personnel. Jeff is trained in the assessment and evidence-based treatment of mental health conditions that arise from public safety personnel service but prefers to present on building resistance and resilience to encourage our peers to stay psychologically healthy. Jeff is a co-author of a 2022 published peer reviewed research study showing positive effects of high fidelity CISM programs on the mental health of first responders in Canada. Jeff facilitates courses titled "Assisting individuals in crisis", "group crisis intervention", "psychological body armour for emergency services and healthcare" and "resilient leadership for emergency services and healthcare". Join us as we explore this interesting new series looking at the mental health of frontline workers, red flags, definitions of mental ill health as it relates to frontline workers, cognitive load, burnout, resilience and finally post traumatic growth. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Welcome back to The Paramedic Podcast where I am joined by Dr Olivia Johnson where we discuss the difficult topic of suicide and all the factors surrounding it. Dr Olivia holds a masters in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri, St Louis and a doctorate in Organisational Leadership Management from the University of Phoenix. Dr Johnson is also the founder of the Blue Wall Institute where she trains first responders, families and administrators on wellness issues, suicide awareness and prevention and leadership issues. Today Olivia and I unpack all of her years of research into these issues and discuss the taboo of suicide in frontline workers, the “fatal 10”, how we can work together to prevent suicide and the importance of a safe and supportive workplace. Join me on this exciting episode and as always, reach out to me, your peers or loved ones if you require some support. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

The Paramedic Podcast welcomes you back for the first episode of 2023. On a Sunday in January this year, I began contemplating my transition out of ambulance and all of the conflicting emotions I felt. After going through this mostly alone, I felt very isolated, depressed, confused and lost. I had such identity fusion with being a paramedic that when I decided to take the uniform off, I had no idea who I was. After connecting with fellow paramedic/firefighter, artist, keynote speaker and mental health advocate Daniel Sundahl I began to realise I wasn’t alone. This led to the creation of an exploratory survey where I asked my peers about their experiences exiting their respective service and, during part 1 of this 4 part series, Daniel and I unpack the survey and have some really compelling discussions about this hidden subject. Join us as we explore this topic and share our findings and personal experiences. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Have you ever thought about how your job affects the people around you? As paramedics, it is well known that our job can be incredibly challenging and thus can present complex reactions and behaviours. However, have you ever thought about how these reactions affect those who support you? Join us on this episode of The Paramedic Podcast where we are joined by Dr Sally Fitzpatrick to discuss this exact topic. On this episode, we delve into the affects supporting a paramedic can have on their family and friends and what support is available to this vital group of people. An area I haven’t given much thought, Dr Sally, a clinical psychologist and program lead for a free program specifically developed to help support those who support paramedics, goes into detail about the affects and strategies that can be used to help support YOUR paramedic. A fantastic episode, with insightful discussions and promoting this new, free program available to all. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

During this episode we touch on some really insightful points relating to conflicts, both internal and external that Paramedics will face in the line of duty. Our internal and external environments have the capacity to leave scars and colour our world and perceptions, but how do we manage these conflicts and maintain clinical competency? How do we manage identity crisis, identify precursors to violence and break the hyper vigilance cycle? Today, we are joined by Mathew Wann, a nonverbal communications analyst, coach, and founder of The Unspoken Edge which teaches the benefits of nonverbal communication analytics to multiple government agencies. Mathew has over 20 years’ experience in nonverbal communication analytics and body language interpretation. Mathew served with the Australian Defence Force for over 15 years and was deployed many times. Mat is highly skilled in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and has led nonverbal communication integration into the combat behaviours training continuum. An expert in his field, Mat shares his knowledge in key areas to help us develop our practice. Enjoy. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Join me for episode 9 of the paramedic podcast where I delve into an extremely relevant and intriguing topic, sleep. Sleep plays an integral role in processing trauma, regulating stress, building emotional resilience and maintaining physical and emotional health. As shift workers, paramedics (and all those who fall under this umbrella) our sleep often takes a back seat, having deleterious affects on our physical and mental health. During this riveting episode we sit with Professor Michael Gradisar, a sleep researcher and clinical psychologist specialising in insomnia and circadian rhythms. Michael has experience treating sleep issues in those with trauma (eg, war veterans) and shift workers. His research spans areas such as insomnia, circadian rhythms, sleep and depression, technology use and sleep, fatigue, light and sleep, and pediatric sleep. He is the resident Sleep Expert for Oz Medicann Group, a company sourcing and providing natural remedies for sleep and insomnia. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Join us for Episode 8 of the Paramedic Podcast where we experience a little change of pace from previous episodes. This episode we are joined by Prebs, a seasoned and respected paramedic with 37 years experience and Caity a past student of mine as she asks all the questions on students and graduates minds. As we enter the new year, this podcast will be really insightful for prospective and current students wishing to undertake a career in paramedicine. Caity has put together an array of questions from her peers for Prebs and I regarding how to be an effective and successful student as well as some tips we have for you along the way! Join us for a laugh and some great insights into this wonderful career. Happy listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Join us for Episode 7 of The Paramedic Podcast as we discuss a topic now very close to my heart, organ donation. Looking back to Episode 3 where I welcomed my friend and colleague Troy to discuss his family’s story, in particular, Troy’s son Flynn, who after his passing, donated his organs and went on to save and change many lives. In this Episode we delve into organ donation, what it is, who can do it, what paramedics can consider pre-hospitally for this population and many more interesting talking points relevant to not only paramedics, but the community as a whole. I encourage you, your friends and your family to be inspired by this podcast and the story of the Hollowell family and begin an open and honest dinner table conversation around organ donation to make you and your families decisions known today and register for organ donation if this is what speaks to you personally. We want to encourage people to make this decision before you are faced with a tragedy as Troy and his family were that day and have the opportunity to give the greatest gift of all…life. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message

Michael McCabe is a Nationally Registered Paramedic and Chief of McCabe Ambulance Service in Bayonne, New Jersey. The company is a family business started in 1973 by his father. Mike has been in EMS for 23 years, and has served in multiple leadership positions, including his active role as the State Leader for the New Jersey EMS Task Force Over the years, he has been involved in multiple high profile incidents, not the least of which being response to the 9/11 attacks, as well as serving as the Incident Commander at “the Miracle on the Hudson” plane crash. Mike is a SWAT medic and is responsible for training law enforcement personnel in self care and officer down treatment protocol. He has served as an analyst on the national TV series Live Rescue and currently hosts a podcast for EMS World. Join me as Mike shares his journey as an EMT in America to the Chief of McCabe Ambulance Service and recounts the major prehospital incidents that shaped his career. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/innerresponse/message