Episode 8: Keith Hanks - Former Fighterfighter/EMT with 21 Years of Service, Mental Health Advocate

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 Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones. In this episode, Erin speaks with Keith Hanks, a former Firefighter and EMT, with 21 years of service in MA, including roles as a Training Officer and Instructor. Keith is retired and is now a Mental Health Advocate, speaking out and educating people on PTSD, substance abuse and suicide prevention in the First Responder community. He is also an author, international speaker and the driving force behind an incredible documentary titled "First Responders In Crisis". Keith and Erin discuss his firefighting career, including his generational lineage of service in the fire department and military, dating back to the Civil War. How unresolved trauma can impact you and the maladaptive ways in which he struggled to cope for so many years. Keith is brutally honest about his experiences throughout his career, including personal losses he endured, speaks about some of his own failings in a truly courageous manner, embodying one of his favourite sayings, "Own Your Shit". He shares about his PTSD diagnosis, the beginning of a spiral and what lead to his last suicide attempt. They discuss the genesis of the documentary "First Responders In Crisis", the impact it's having in the First Responder community and the incredible feedback he's been receiving as a result.  Not many people can be as open and pursue their journey of healing in such an unbridled, authentic way as Keith does, but his kindness in sharing his painful experiences and emotions is all part of his strong desire to help others not go through what he did. Erin and Keith also discuss the reluctance to speak about mental health in the First Responder world. It was such a wonderful opportunity to speak with Mr Hanks and we both hope you enjoy this episode! The documentary "First Responders In Crisis" can be found on Amazon Prime, You Tube, Xfinity and many other streaming platforms. If you would like to get in contact with Keith or offer feedback on the documentary, he can be reached at [email protected] or found on Instagram via @khanksmz 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!