E.201 First Responders Face Their Toughest Opponent: Mental Health Stigma

Resilience Development in Action

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Michael Sugrue shares his powerful journey from military service to law enforcement to his medical retirement due to post-traumatic stress injury, revealing how he almost became one of the alarming first responder suicide statistics and his mission to now "smash the stigma" around mental health.
• From Air Force security forces officer to 14 years with Walnut Creek Police Department, serving in various roles including undercover detective
• First responder suicide remains significantly underreported, with over 2,000 known law enforcement suicides since 2016
• The culture of suppressing emotions and projecting invincibility begins in academy training with virtually no focus on mental health
• First responders experience hundreds of traumatic incidents in their careers compared to the average person's one or two in a lifetime
• After a 2012 officer-involved shooting, Michael suffered in silence for four years before finally seeking help
• Building relationships with culturally competent therapists before major incidents occur is crucial for prevention
• Leadership at all levels must model vulnerability and normalize conversations about mental health
• Post-traumatic stress is not a career-ender if addressed promptly with appropriate resources
• Michael's book "Relentless Courage" provides both personal insight and practical resources for first responders
Find Michael Sugrue on all social media platforms as "Sgt Michael Sugrue" to connect and learn more about resources for first responders dealing with trauma.

His Book - Relentless Courage: Winning The Battle Against Frontline Trauma. - Can be purchased by clicking here.
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Chapters

1. Introduction to Resilience Development (00:00:00)

2. Meet Michael Sugru: Military to Police (00:02:36)

3. The First Responder Suicide Crisis (00:10:16)

4. Trauma Exposure and Cultural Barriers (00:17:54)

5. Michael's Personal Crisis and Recovery (00:26:07)

6. Building Resources and Finding Help (00:35:53)