Chatting with Craig Heslop, CEO of BUDDYUP Australia about supporting our first responders and defence personnel.

CONTENT WARNIING:This episode does discuss the topics of suicide and suicide prevention, listener discretion is advised. This week host Mark McConville chats with Buddy Up Australia CEO Craig Heslop, about how laughter, community, and practical decompression keep first responders and defence personnel well during service and after it. We break down what Buddy Up offers, why evidence-based prevention matters, and how connection can beat isolation when the job gets heavy. • Craig’s take on laughter as medicine and trusted “tribes” • dark humour as a coping tool and the need for safe spaces • Buddy Up Australia’s community model for first responders, defence, and families • decompression after shift through breathing, movement, recovery, and better routines • social prescribing and why loneliness cannot be solved with medication • funding realities for charities and the case for diversified revenue • tactical nutrition and performance thinking for shift work • leadership vs management and why good operators are not always good leaders • mentorship culture that supports younger members without judgement • how free membership works and what a first event feels like • the push for external evaluation and an evidence-based lens Thanks for listening. For more info on BUDDYUP Australia visit:https://buddyupaustralia.orgTo follow BUDDYUP on Linkedin visit: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buddy-up-australia/posts/?feedView=allTo keep in touch with Craig Helop visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-heslop/Website: www.thelaughterclinic.com.auYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@thelaughterclinicAus"If you or someone you know needs support, please contact one of these Australian mental health services. In an emergency, always call 000."Lifeline AustraliaPhone: 13 11 14 (24/7)Web: lifeline.org.auSuicide Call Back ServicePhone: 1300 659 467 (24/7)Web: suicidecallbackservice.org.auBeyond BluePhone: 1300 22 4636 (24/7)Web: beyondblue.org.auKids Helpline (for people aged 5-25)Phone: 1800 55 1800 (24/7)Web: kidshelpline.com.auMensLine AustraliaPhone: 1300 78 99 78 (24/7)Web: mensline.org.auSANE Australia (complex mental health issues)Phone: 1800 18 7263Web: sane.orgQLife (LGBTIQ+ support)Phone: 1800 184 527 Web: qlife.org.auOpen Arms (Veterans & Families Counselling)Phone: 1800 011 046 (24/7)Web: openarms.gov.au1800RESPECT (sexual assault, domestic violence)Phone: 1800 737 732 (24/7)Web: 1800respect.org.auHeadspace (youth mental health, ages 12-25)Phone: 1800 650 890 Web: headspace.org.au13YARN (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support)Phone: 13 92 76 (13YARN) (24/7)Web: 13yarn.org.auMusic by Hayden Smithhttps://www.haydensmith.com