Episode 46: Josh Bailey - ADF Veteran, Former LEO; Discussion About Commemorating Service and The Complicated Emotions That Can Arise

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 is a special episode! Erin talks to Josh Bailey, a Veteran of the Australian Defence Force, both enlisted and as a reservist and former police officer with the Australian Federal Police.

Josh is the VERY FIRST return guest (you can check out our first conversation, Epsiode 26) and having developed a strong friendship since that initial podcast episode, Erin and Josh have kept in regular contact with each other.

Australia and the USA have many things in common, one thing being some of ways in which they commemorate those who have served and given the ultimate sacrifice for their country, in military service.

Erin and Josh were talking around Anzac Day (April 25th) and discussing some of the raw, powerful emotions that can come up for people around these revered occasions. With Memorial Day coming up here in the United States, they decided to book end a conversation about this topic, between those two dates.

Whether you have served, are a First Responder and Veteran or support and love someone who is, this episode is for you.

Josh and Erin talk about the history behind Anzac Day, Memorial Day, Remembrance Day and Veteran's Day respectively, the meaning they hold for veterans and civilians alike and some complicated emotions that can be brought up around these types of occasions.

They discuss the ways grief can show up, Josh talks about the strategy of Awareness, Acknowledgement and Acceptance and the importance of leaning on your mates and loved ones during challenging times.

This episode is just two people having a conversation, bringing awareness so others can know how incredibly common it is to wrestle with difficult emotions around these kinds of commemorative occasions and that there is nothing to be ashamed of. Utilising different coping skills and strategies and understanding there are resources available, should you need them, is the point. Plain and simple.

They share some Australian-based resources and organisations doing some great work, please feel free to check them out:

https://aussiefrontline.com.au/ & https://aussiefrontlinefoundation.org.au/

Phoenix Foundation: https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=700566919&gbraid=0AAAAADhz5jnBrUROH0etTgvo4jQorNGCf&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7M30tuOmjQMVIElHAR1XYxLwEAAYASAAEgK2ifD_BwE

https://soldiersandsirens.com.au/

https://linktr.ee/itsahardchoclife

Additionally you can follow Josh on IG: @joshs_psychology_

We hope you find some benefit in listening to this conversation. Please feel free to reach out to either of us if you need some assistance navigating the path of finding some help.

If in the United States, reach out to Erin and she will be happy to send you some recommendations, or legitimately just google "Military and First Responder mental health support" and there are more than we could list here.

Please feel free to re