Episode 53 - Melissa Smith

This week Rosie chats with long-time mate and former Police Officer Mel Smith, who opens up about the rollercoaster ride that followed her PTSD diagnosis in 2021. From life in the force starting at just 18, raising three kids while juggling the demands of frontline work, to navigating multiple hospital stays and the emotional chaos of identity loss — Mel shares it all. She talks about what it's really like to leave a career that shaped your entire adult life, the messy middle of healing, and how her podcast Mad Mel's Mic became both a lifeline and a way to help others feel less alone. We cover parenting while broken, hospital admissions, the reality of weight gain and mental illness, and why radical honesty is the most powerful tool in recovery. Mel doesn't sugarcoat a thing — and that's exactly why this episode hits so hard. It's one for every woman who's ever felt like she was falling apart, every former first responder trying to find their footing, and anyone needing the reminder that healing doesn't have to be polished to be powerful. ⚠️ Language warning & capacity note: This episode includes strong language and vulnerable themes. Please take care while listening. ** Content Warning ** Due to the nature of this Podcast and the discussions that I have with Guests, I feel it's important to underline that there may be content within the episodes that have the potential to cause harm. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, please contact one of the services below for support. Find Rosie Skene: Website K Fit World Article Learn more about the First Responder Mental Wellness Method Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Join our private Facebook Group - First Responder & Veteran Mental Wellness To keep up to date and get weekly emails from me - Newsletter Find Melissa Smith Podcast Facebook Mental Health Resources: 000 - Concerns for someone's immediate welfare, please call 000 (Australia) RUOK? - Resources https://www.ruok.org.au/every-day-resources LIFELINE, Crisis Support & Suicide Prevention - 13 11 14 - https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636 - https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ 1800 Respect, Domestic, Family & Sexual Violence Counselling - 1800 737 732 -https://www.1800respect.org.au/ Suicide Call Back Service, 24hr free video & online counselling - 1300 659 467 -https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/ Blue Knot, Empowering Recovery from Complex Trauma - 1300 650 380 - https://blueknot.org.au/ Head Space, National Youth Mental Health Foundation - https://www.headspace.com/ Black Dog Institute - https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/ Kids Helpline (24/7, for youth 5-25) 1800 55 1800 - https://kidshelpline.com.au/ Support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - 13 YARN (24/7) 13 92 76 - https://www.13yarn.org.au/ MensLine (24/7) 1300 78 99 78 - https://mensline.org.au/ QLife (3pm-midnight) 1800 184 527 - Anonymous, free LGBTI support - https://qlife.org.au/