JCIP #203 - Dean Corney

Explicit content warning

09/23/23 • 84 min

In episode 203 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with firefighter Dean Corney. Dean is also the co-founder of Walk & Talk 999, which is a men's walking group in the in the UK for any man in the emergency services to walk and talk about their mental health, if they want to, and be met with empathy, trust and understanding. The group was setup in 2018 by four women and two men, including Dean, who realised there weren’t any support groups for firefighters specifically to talk about their mental health. On 21st September 2021, the group did their first ever walk round a local park near their station and 11 brave men turned up. Since then, the group has grown exponentially, with 13 walking groups now setup across the UK. Because of its success, Dean operates the group full-time such is the level of expansion that’s taken place. The groups have now expanded to include any man from an emergency services background who can attend and they have had letters of praise from HRH Prince William, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and had support from celebrities like Dr Alex George and Joe Wickes. In this episode we discuss his journey into firefighting, the stress and strain that the job puts on men like him as well as the purpose it gives him when he has to save lives and the camaraderie amongst his fellow firefighters. We also discuss how, contrary to popular belief how the lionisation of firefighters from well-meaning friends, family or members of the public can actually put more pressure on men like him when it comes to disclosing when they are struggling with their mental health. For Dean’s mental health, 11 years ago he struggled with depression which developed into an eating disorder and he lost a huge amount of weight in a short period of time. We discuss the stigma he faced in the job and outside the job which prevented him from addressing it, seeking support and recovering, the progress he has made since then and the role he holds in helping other men like him. As always, #itsokaytovent You can find out more about Walk & Talk 999 and find your local walk if you're in the emergency services here: https://www.walkandtalk999.co.uk/ You can follow Walk & Talk 999 on social media below: Twitter: https://twitter.com/WalkandTalk999 Support Us: Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpuk GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp...ir-mental-health Merchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shop Music: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

Previous Episode

JCIP #202 - Angela Walker

In episode 202 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with journalist Angela Walker. Angela has over 20 years’ experience as a news reporter including twelve years as a Senior Journalist with BBC News. She now works freelance and has her own podcast ‘Angela Walker Reports’. In this episode we chart her journalism journey, from a chance opportunity to go on local radio to talk about the motorcycle company she was working at as a receptionist, to working for North Norfolk radio, to moving to Moscow to work for Russia Today when it was first created. For industry issues, we discuss the cuts that have been made to local journalism in recent years and the impact that has had on holding politicians to account across the country. For Angela’s mental health we discuss motherhood and the discovery she made after childbirth where pregnancy caused her to discover she had a condition called hypermobility syndrome. We discuss the long battle she fought to be taken seriously with this condition, getting treatment for it and the impact it’s had on her physical and mental health. We finish by discussing balancing motherhood with a career, why she strives to juggle both as best as she can to be a role model for her daughter and to educate her about the stories she covers. As always, #itsokaytovent Find out more about Angela's work here: https://www.angelawalkerreports.com/ You can subscribe to Angela's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@AngelaWalker-news You can follow her on social media below: Twitter: https://twitter.com/AngieHWalker Support Us: Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpuk GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp...ir-mental-health Merchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shop Music: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

Next Episode

JCIP #204 - Stephen J Shaw

In episode 204 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Stephen J Shaw. Stephen is an academic, data scientist and the writer, director and producer of the film 'Birthgap - Childless World'. Birthgap analyses the data of falling birth-rates across the world, the societal, economic and cultural reasons this is happening and what the consequences of it will be. Stephen also speaks to a range of people in the field of fertility medicine, couples who don’t have children and most powerfully, men and women who are involuntarily childless. In this episode we discuss Stephen’s academic journey, a deep dive into the film and all of the issues it explores through a mental health lens and the reaction it’s had upon its release both positive and negative. We also discuss the mental toll that the filming of Birthgap had on Stephen himself and hearing these hugely traumatic stories of grief from the interviewees who were involuntarily childless. For Stephen’s mental health, we discuss the impact that his divorce had on his mental health and the trauma of being separated from his children. As always, #itsokaytovent You can watch Part 1 of Birthgap on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6s8QlIGanA&pp=ygUYYmlydGhnYXAgY2hpbGRsZXNzIHdvcmxk You can find out more about Stephen's work here: https://www.birthgap.org/ You can follow Stephen on social media below: Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephenJShaw Support Us: Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpuk GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp...ir-mental-health Merchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shop Music: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk