You work hard, and sacrifice a lot. ...You deserve to live a great life.
Unfortunately, the reality is that the stats aren't great. Whether you look at divorce rates, mental health concerns, or the very unfortunate suicide data, First Responders and Front Line Workers face higher risk in all of these areas than "Joe Citizen". There needs to be more support, and support that is real and unafraid to tackle the tough stuff. And that support needs to be accessible and consistent.
And that's exactly why I've created Behind The Line.
A podcast created for First Responders and Front Line Workers to tackle the challenges of working on the front lines. Dig into topics on burnout, workplace dynamics, managing mental health, balancing family life...and so much more.
" I just wanted to send you a note to thank you for your latest series. It has helped me immensely both process my grief surrounding the loss of a coworker and also see and point out the signs in another that may have saved a life. This subject cannot be talked about openly enough and I cannot thank you enough for being part of the change we need. I am so glad I stumbled across your podcast and will share it with everyone I know. It's advice and reach are immeasurable. Thank YOU."
"I started listening to your podcast driving home from work and had to pull over to finish listening to it (and to finish crying). It was the first time anyone other than my direct colleagues so accurately described what it feels like to work on the front lines. Thank you for seeing us and for normalizing what I and so many others have been experiencing for so many years, which has now been magnified by the pandemic. Thank you for breaking down resilience and self-care into tangible skills and giving clear and realistic ways to gain these skills. Thank you for posing a way to integrate the trauma that I witness and attempt to address into my healing and resilience, rather than resilience being something to attain in spite of trauma. Just, thank you."
"Thank you 💕 I may have cried a little while listening, you hit the nail on the head on many topics, I look forward to the next episodes."
"Thank you so much for what you do. I enjoy your podcasts and all the resources that go along with them. I have been struggling with my self care lately and every so often I hear your voice in my head telling me it's not what you do but the attitude with which you do it that matters, and when I want to do something the least is when I need it the most! You are amazing and I love that you really get first responder/front line work."
Jump over to our entire library of Behind the Lines episodes
My name is Lindsay Faas. I am a trauma-specialized therapist working in Fort Langley, BC (Canada). I have spent over a decade working in the field of trauma therapy, and many of those years working one-on-one with First Responders and Front Line Workers struggling with the weight of their work. Military Personnel, Police, RCMP, Fire Fighters, Paramedics, Corrections Officers, 911 Dispatchers, Nurses, Social Workers...You name it.
I have heard the same stories over, and over, and over again. Stories of tough calls, but also tough workplaces. Brutal management-level bureaucracy, toxic workplace dynamics, fear-based disciplinary practices...the list goes on.
While I love my work, I'm also tired of hearing the same stories. I'm tired of nothing changing. And I want to make a difference. I have worked tirelessly to put together resources and tools designed specifically for those on the front lines. You sacrifice so much for us, you deserve so much better than what we give you.
This podcast is just one more piece I can offer. A space to talk about the real stuff - the good, the bad and the ugly. A place to talk about ideas, tools and strategies to help make it different. Why a podcast? Well, for a few reasons. First, anonymity. Most tools you access, like a book for example, are conspicuous - people see the title and wonder whether you're ok. This is something you can interact with without raising concerns or igniting all that awesome stigma that floats around about mental health and wellness. Second, it's portable. Many of you have long commutes, some of you are out on the road as part of your shift - you need tools that can come along for the ride and ways to use those chunks of time to benefit you. Third, it's connecting. Real people, real voices, real conversations, in real time. You need to hear that you're not alone, and support starts here.
I hope you'll subscribe below to get our emails updating you on upcoming episodes. I also welcome contributions and ideas for topics you'd like to hear about. You can send your suggestions to [email protected].
Stay safe out there,
~ Lindsay
The Beating the Breaking Point Indicators Checklist & Triage Guide is a free pdf tool that helps you to self-assess burnout and related concerns, and gives you next step directions to help shift gears. We encourage First Responders & Front Line Workers to use it regularly to keep burnout from creeping up on you.
Are you walking the line to burnout? Or are you way past the line already? Sign up to access our Indicators Checklist to assess where you're at, and the companion guide to walk through steps toward building health and sustainability, on the job and off. When you sign up for this resource, we'll also send you weekly podcast alerts!