EP24 - Living alongside PTSD - Sarah and Janine talk openly about the family perspective

09/13/23 • 47 min

Living alongside PTSD- a family perspective with Janine Hopkin and Sarah U'Brien.

In this episode, Matt takes a step back from the microphone and lets two of the Heart 2 Heart Walkers, Sarah and Janine have a 'self interview' by the waters edge not far from our camp at Urana, NSW. After setting up the recording equipment and hitting the red button it was over to them.

However this is no ordinary chat between these ladies. Both Sarah and Janine were 'Police wives' and everything that goes along with it. From living in small communities with the local Policeman to now looking after their partners that both suffer PTSD.

We hear all too often about the action packed, drama filled lives Police and emergency services workers lead however what is often left out is the 'behind the scenes' part of those stories; the partners, the children and the consequences.

In this episode, we are changing that. You will hear about the tragic effects on both them as partners, but even more devastating, their children who are just so innocently involved in not only the chaos of service, but the effects of having a parent suffer a mental health condition as a result of that service.

You can also watch this waterside chat between Sarah and Janine on YouTube. https://youtu.be/ZojBgZ0-HTw

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Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners.

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Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk

Living alongside PTSD- a family perspective with Janine Hopkin and Sarah U'Brien.

You can also watch this waterside chat between Sarah and Janine on YouTube. https://youtu.be/ZojBgZ0-HTw

_______
Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners.

____________________________

Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk

Previous Episode

EP23 - Nicky Skinner - Paramedic ||| From London gang violence to COVID

Nicky Skinner - Paramedic - London Ambulance Service to the ACT Ambulance Service.

In this episode, Matt talks to Nicky Skinner, a Heart 2 Heart Walker who joined us on a short break from her role as a Paramedic with the ACT Ambulance Service.

Nicky talks all about what it is like to join as an Ambulance Paramedic, both here in Australia and with the London Ambulance Service where she started her career. As a 23 year old Paramedic, Nicky was a single unit responder in the rough streets of Romford in London's East, where stabbings were the favourite tool used by the gangs of the area and being surrounded by a group of men with no backup in an ambush-setup response call.

As you can imagine, as a newly qualified paramedic thrown into the deep end in East London, Nicky tells of the daily pressures learning her craft as the clinical lead responding to emergencies throughout the area. She also reflects on how poor management practices and organisational pressures can sometimes be more difficult to deal with than responding to traumatic scenes - and just how important positive, supportive organisational culture can be in the emergency services.

So enjoy this small insight into one of the Heart 2 Heart Walkers, as we mention, these humble people rarely tell their stories so enjoy this chat with another one of Australia's fantastic first responders!

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Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners.

____________________________

Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk

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Next Episode

HD#10 - Sgt Greg Corin - AFP [ CPP and SRG member ] - MH17, Afghanistan and Timor.

Sergeant Greg Corin APM - Australian Federal Police 36 years. Such a diverse career from General Duties Policing, Specialist Response Group (SRG) - Discreet Operations Team through to Team Leader, Close Personal Protection team for the Governor-General and Prime Minister.

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Listener discretion is advised; this episode raises issues such as child abuse, suicide and other emotive issues that might not be suitable for all listeners.

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In this Hot Debrief episode, Matt talks to Sgt Greg Corin APM during the Heart 2 Heart Walk. Greg has led an amazing career within the Australian Federal Police (AFP) since commencing in 1987 currently in his 36th year of service that has taken him all around the world. A service that has taken a huge toll on both him and his family with a level of resilience that you need to hear to believe.

Greg has specialised in various operational roles including Tactical Operations within the Specialist Response Group, Surveillance Operations, Close Personal Protection, Witness Protection, Police Rescue and even Water Police. This unique array of capabilities has seen Greg also an operational member of the ‘Discreet Operations Team’ - conducting both domestic and international operations.

If hunting Columbian Drug importers in remote parts of Australia’s west coast sounds intense, you need to hear the stories of being held at gunpoint during UN operations in East Timor, surviving a massive Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) attack just 300 metres away in Afghanistan and being shot at by Russian separatists while deployed to Ukraine soon after the downing of flight MH17. Greg’s role as a Ceremonial and Protocol Officer saw him involved in the ramp ceremonies for the repatriation of 24 Australians killed in the crash on his return.

It is quite hard to believe that this high risk, high tempo diverse service was given despite personal adversities that you need to hear to believe.

This episode goes for over 2 hours, and only scratches the surface of this spectacular career, and so much of it he is not able to reveal due to the extreme sensitivity of the operations he has been involved in. So hard to believe we have the privilege of walking along side this amazing Australian First Responder during the Heart 2 Heart Walk. Thank you Greg for sharing this powerful story.

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Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk