Episode 32: Steve Powers - USMC Veteran, Former Law Enforcement Officer 26 years, Founder of "Hashtag BuddyCheck"

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, certified Life & Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones. In this episode, Erin speaks with Steve Powers, a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, former Police Officer with over 22 years experience, with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD in North Carolina and previously, serving as a Correctional Officer with Charles County Sheriff's Office in Maryland. Since retiring from law enforcement in late 2021, Steve has spent his time heavily involved in Peer Support and Crisis Intervention Teams, focusing on Vicarious Trauma and Officer Wellness. He is also the Founder of "Hashtag BuddyCheck", a 501(c)3 organisation, created to assist First Responders and their spouses with the impact of trauma, through awareness and education, after experiencing his own share of trauma exposure and mental health challenges over his 30+ years of service. In their conversation, Steve tells Erin about what drew him to enlist in the USMC at just 17 and his service in the Security Forces and as Squad Leader in the 3rd Battalion. He recounts the transition out of the military and back to Maryland, where he applied for numerous Law Enforcement positions, before becoming a Correctional Officer. Steve worked amongst this population for 4 years and, as many describe, it's like you're doing time along with the inmates. With family in the Charlotte, NC area, Steve applied for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD, where he would spend the majority of his career. He explains that he spent a lot of time in patrol and early on, found himself to be "one of those people" that others felt comfortable coming to and speaking with if they were having a difficult time. Steve tells Erin after finding himself naturally thrust into that kind of privileged position, he found courses to do to become a qualified Peer Support Specialist, at both State and Federal levels and how he was part of a Crisis Intervention Team, where he and a Mental Health Clinician would attend a myriad of calls for assistance together. Steve opens up about his own mental health battles, feeling overwhelmed, burnt out and unable to find his way out of darkness and despair, leading to two suicide attempts. Through the support of his wife, family and fellow Veteran friend, he was able to get some help and begin on a path of healing and learning about his own capacity to help others. Knowing what a challenge mental health and trauma exposure is for the Veteran and First Responder community, Steve founded "Hashtag BuddyCheck" in 2019 in an effort to educate and help others with their struggles in the way he was helped. He describes to Erin what's behind the name of the 501(c)3 and the kind of education and presentations he provides. This was a wonderful, honest and heartfelt conversation to have and another chance to highlight a man doing great things in the month of June, being Men's Mental Health Awareness Month. You can follow Steve on social media on "Hashtag BuddyCheck" pages and reach out for speaking engagements or make a donation via https://hashtagbuddycheck.com We both hope you enjoy listening to this episode!  Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane. Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.erinjanecoaching.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/erinjanecoaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Call or Text: +1 617 396 4695 You can watch the episodes as video on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@Erin-Jane-Coaching?si=XI8q0z3mhmzO_a7_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feel free to watch, listen, subscribe and share!