Hope Out of the Darkness Podcast

09/19/2022

Thanks, Blue_Wives_Matter for helping to promote awareness and reduce the stigma, and for supporting first responder loss survivors. 💙

For 2022 we are already at 102 reported Law Enforcement su***des. The actual numbers are even much higher. So much more must be done to address this ongoing epidemic among all First Responders!

Let’s all help to smash the stigma!

Sgt. Michael Sugrue - Ret.

***deprevention

06/15/2022

The crowd ebbed and I finally had a chance to take a picture yesterday at VA Hospital Long Beach. I was honored to chat with and hand out resources to over 150 Veterans and hospital staff yesterday, as a special guest of the VA’s Mental Health Su***de Prevention Department. I had several meaningful conversations, and was especially touched by several veterans who bravely shared their personal struggles with me.

Our focus at yesterday’s Lethal Means Popup was on Gun Safety and Su***de Prevention Education. We passed out gun locks and encouraged all to “Have a Brave Conversation.” It’s not easy to talk about feelings, let alone su***de, but it is critical to reducing the number of veteran su***de deaths. And research shows if we can separate a person in crisis from the means to end their life, it gives TIME. And TIME can save lives. You can learn more by attending one of our Talk Saves Lives presentations, virtual or in-person): https://afsp.org/calendar/

Yesterday’s outreach opportunity aligned perfectly with American Foundation for Su***de Prevention ‘s Project 2025, and a special thanks goes to Finance of America Companies Cares. As a a 2022 Grant recipient, our OC Chapter is able to pass out targeted Su***de prevention education materials to all who stop by our tables, which is one way we can strive to reach our bold goal to reduce the number of su***des by 20% by the year 2025. ***de

03/26/2022

Would you talk to a friend or family member the way you talk to yourself?
Listen to Season 1, Ep 10 Michelle Anhang.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-out-of-the-darkness/id1569898897?i=1000535280152

02/11/2022

Season Two is coming soon! In the meantime, check out the episodes you missed, or our YouTube channel.
Click here for access and more info:

https://linktr.ee/shellpavlis

11/25/2021

Kristen and Robert Sweaza started the nonprofit Blue Wives Matter to provide support to the families of fallen officers. While police officers often suffer from PTSD, depression, stress, and other mental health issue, they don't often seek help due in part to the stigma that still surrounds mental health struggles in law enforcement agencies.

11/23/2021

Retired Police Captain Robert Sweaza and his wife, Kristen, are my guests in Part Two of Mental Illness with Police Officers, where we discuss mental illness and how it relates to law enforcement officers. Kristen and Robert are the founders of Blue Wives Matter, a nonprofit dedicated to providing support for the families of fallen law enforcement officers. In this conversation, we talk about the particular challenges of mental health and su***de prevention education in law enforcement, the mental health stigma as it relates to first responders, and what goes into supporting the families of fallen officers. Blue_Wives_Matter

11/20/2021

AFSP OC’s programs today.

11/11/2021

Joe Reid had the opportunity of a lifetime: to share with future law enforcement officers some important things that he learned through his own law enforcement experience. It wasn't easy for him to do - which just proves how incredibly brave he is.

11/09/2021

We're welcoming Joseph Reid back to the Hope Out of the Darkness Podcast. Joe is the founder and executive director of BrokenPeople.org and Author of Broken Like Me: And Insider's Toolkit for Mending Broken People, which he talked about during Episode 5. In this episode, Joe talks about the relationship between insight, compassion, and law enforcement. Recently, he had the opportunity to speak to law enforcement cadets in cooperation with The Cardinal Group, who got a little more than they bargained for with Joe's speech, and how he hopes to help future law enforcement officers understand how to respond to mental health crises both with the public they serve and themselves. His reminder to them was to take care of themselves, like putting on your own oxygen mask before assisting others with theirs.