‘I probably would be a statistic’
Former paramedic aiding those with PTSD through monthly podcast
A former paramedic has found solace in helping others as he continues his journey battling PTSD.
Sean Conohan launched a podcast in January 2016 as a way to learn more about posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD) and get people talking about a mental injury that, for far too long, has been dealt with quietly.
“When you look back, you can see the symptoms. What happens is you start to disconnect from family, you disconnect from loved ones, from friends. You may become very depressed or anxious and you just start to isolate yourself. You might not even realize it until it gets to the point where it’s too much,” said Conohan.
“That’s why it’s so important to talk. Talk to your peers. It’s so important to ask for help, which I know is scary.”
It’s hard to broach the subject with employers, he adds, but, “you have to do it.”
With listeners tuning in from Sean Conohan’s work on his podcast that shines a light on PTSD has been honoured at the national level. He received the 2017 Tema Media Award for his work on UpTalk.
around the world, Conohan said he’s learning and healing while he produces the monthly podcast.
The former Valley man began
noticing something was amiss in 2013, but like others with PTSD, he carried on until the emotions and images were too much to bear. He said it was in
January or February of 2014 that he knew he needed help.
“That’s when I realized that this isn’t getting any better and it’s just getting worse,” said Conohan, noting it was around this time that more first responders were opening up about PTSD.
“To the back of my mind, I probably knew that was what was happening to me. But of course, like everybody else, I didn’t want to admit it and just wanted to think that I’m tough enough, that I’ll just get through it and it’ll get better and of course, that doesn’t work,” said Conohan.
In March 2014, he found himself without a job, income or benefits.
“And for me, personally, without an identity. For 17 years, I identified myself as a paramedic. I had lost all of those things,” said Conohan.
Getting help
As life began to spiral, Conohan found a clinical psychologist, Dr. Robin McGee, of Port Williams, and the pair clicked. The Tema Conter Memorial Trust submitted a cheque for $ 1,000 to help with his treatment, and Conohan said that was when his life began to turn around.
“Without that, I know I probably wouldn’t be here today. I probably would be a statistic,” said Conohan, referring to the number of first responders who die by suicide annually.
“That’s why I’m always excited, honoured and feel blessed to be able to work with Tema Conter Memorial Trust because they saved my life. I owe them my life.”
Conohan was honoured earlier this month when he received the 2017 Tema Media Award for his work on UpTalk.
Vince Savoia, the founder and executive director of Tema Conter Memorial Trust – Canada’s leading provider of peer support, family assistance, education and training for first responders - said presenting the award to Conohan was a ‘ no-brainer.’
“As you can appreciate, first responders — as part of their job — attend to individuals who are struggling with mental health issues. So, to the first responder, it’s almost an embarrassment to be diagnosed with any sort of mental health injury or illness,” Savoia said.
“In Canada, as a whole, there is still a very strong stigma around mental health and mental illness. What the podcast basically does for the first responder community is it chips away at that stigma. It allows individuals who have experienced either a mental health injury or who are struggling with addictions and/ or mental health illness to come forward and share their story with their colleagues. To those who are listening to the podcast, it truly is a sense of not being alone.”