Melanie shares stories about how she got into law enforcement, the importance of making mental health a priority for officers, the impact of her Field Training Officers on her career and perspective, being trained on controlling situations and leadership (3:08), making stops for stats and how those “performance quotas” help your chances of being promoted, mentally checking out b/c of the mental stress of the job, the institutional stigma behind expressing your trauma, being fired for her mental trauma and fighting to get her job back, nearly committing suicide because of the mental stress and lack of support from her department, her PTSD affecting her home life with her family (47:05), finally finding a support group by going to West Coast Post Trauma Retreat and getting to a better mental place, thinking of her mental health as an injury not a disability, systematic change to police training, why she became a cop (1:47:46), “Best 1st for Last” 1st time playing in the police softball olympics and medaling, “ENCORE Appearance” more details about her dealing with her PTSD and trying to understand what the right kind of help was for her (2:31:40), what would make a good counselor for cops, possibly getting in police counseling herself, coming home on Thanksgiving day and breaking down about her shame of being scared during a call (3:38:37)
To Get 2 Know more about Melanie... check out her instagram @mikeska56 or Twitter @melaniemikeska She can also be contacted through email deputyjo @ msn . com
WCPR West Coast Post Trauma Retreat is the retreat she credits for saving her life https://www.frsn.org/west-coast-post-trauma-retreat.html
Fire Fighter Deconstructed is another great resource for those who have and are serving that are dealing with mental health
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-firefighter-deconstructed/id1500483348
Melanie wanted to make sure listeners know she's always here to lift you up and lend an ear, just reach out to her.
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205-Kris: Fin Tech Capitalist, Bullish on the XRP Token, Grew Up In Finance, Thinks Rosie Rios is Up to Something
204-Cape Referendum with Board Members Dr. Myers and Mrs. Tyndall
203-Solus: Rapper, Rock Climber, Vape Bummer, Zones out by Playing Video Games and Listening to Podcasts, Dated a Graffiti Artist
202-Kurt: Coder, University of Alabama Grad, Studied Abroad in Italy and Japan, Had a Swat Team Called on Him because of an Umbrella
201-Olivia: 10 Years No Alcohol, Not the Sorority Type, Talks to Animals, HUGE Crush on Lex Fridman, Has a Subaru for a Reason
200-Hoppy Chulo: Brewer, Cali Transplant, Father at 19, Journaler, Built Boats for the Navy, Talking to Strangers is Kinda his Thing
199-Jim: Helps Organizations Put Out Dumpster Fires, Houses 2 Ukrainian Refugees, Farmer’s Son, Traveled to Cuba
198-Zoe Patchell: Executive Director of the Delaware Cannabis Advocacy Network
197-Allen Family Tribe: Unconventional Parents Believing in Child Autonomy and Unschooling
196-Leia: Photographer and Story Teller, Passionate about Regenerative Agriculture, SOKA University Alumni, Loves Rapping, Surfer
195-Iain Wood: The King of Chemo, Wants to Set the World Record for Cancer Research Fundraising
194-Jonny: Overcame a Meth Addiction through Psychedelics, Former Jehovah’s Witness, Has a Formula for Homemade Ayahuasca, Future Shaman?
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192- Dust: Blues Rapper, Basement Artist, Goal of Performing a Tiny Desk Concert, Reveres The Tragically Hip
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190-Mike: Cook, Family Man, Warts and All Kinda Guy, Likes Punk Rock Music, Introverted Until he worked at UPS
189-Jessica Tyndall: Candidate for Cape Henlopen School Board
188-KJ: Self Taught Artist, 2nd Generation Bronxite, Always the Outcast, Capricorn, Former P.I.
187-B: Divine Feminine, Desires Avoiding Decision Fatigue, Was a Communist for like 2 Weeks, Podcaster, Not for Long Single Mom
186-Aaron: Wants to Be Intentional with his Life, Has a Side Quest to Start an Acton Academy, Often has Lucid Dreams, Ego Lifter
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