Episode 45: Chris Moore - Firefighter Captain, Mental Health Advocate, Suicide Attempt Survivor

Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane.

A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, trauma informed and certified Life and Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.

This week, Erin speaks with Chris Moore, an active duty Firefighter with over 30 years of service in departments in VA, where he currently serves as a Captain with the Chesapeake FD. Chris is an outspoken advocate for the mental health, wellness and suicide prevention amongst the First Responder, after experiencing his own mental health challenges, including a PTS diagnosis and suicide attempt.

Chris travels across the country, sharing his story, in the hope of bringing awareness and reducing the associated cultural stigma that's so heavily entrenched when it comes to mental health. He was also interviewed and featured in the PTSD-911 documentary, directed by Conrad Weaver.

Chris tells Erin about his childhood, growing up as the son of a Vietnam Veteran father, who went on to become a police officer after returning from the war. He remembers the sense of pride and service that instilled in him and explains what drew him towards a career in firefighting over law enforcement.

He spent 8 years as a volunteer, until finding a position with Chesapeake FD, where he's spent the last 24 years serving his community.

Chris details to Erin about his bucket beginning to overflow in 2017, with the cumulative nature of a First Responder role catching up to him and eventually reaching out for some help in 2018. He was given some coping tools and strategies, to replace the unhealthy ones he had developed along the course of his career and was travelling well....until he wasn't.

He opens up to Erin about falling into an incredibly dark place psychologically in March of 2022, to the point he made a suicide attempt, waking up in the hospital to the image of his wife (at the time) and son at his bedside.

From the depths of despair, Chris was able to fight hard and regain his mental health, with the help of therapy, new coping skills and strategies and a powerful experience attending a Save A Warrior program.

Chris travels across the US, sharing his powerful mental health journey, his story of resilience and letting others know they're not alone. Additionally, he shares his personal number for people to reach out to, if they need a peer to talk to and listen. He has had over 2500 people contact him.

This conversation was incredibly impactful and truly beautiful to be a part of. Chris is raw, honest, authentic and holds nothing back. He shares the good and the bad, the things many people would want to shy away from. It's a testament to the work he has done on himself and how passionate he is in trying to help others, so they don't end up in the dark place he found himself psychologically.

We both hope you enjoy listening! And let's wish Chris a wonderful wedding day tomorrow!

You can find Chris on

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100048453519257

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-moore-2ab5b9234/

Or his number is: 757 536 3373

More info for Save A Warrior: https://saveawarrior.org/

Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.

Email: .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}