In this episode of the Move the Chains Podcast, Ryan Munsey speaks with Dena Ali, a battalion chief with the Raleigh (NC) Fire Department and mental wellness advocate for first responders. Dena is also the Program Manager for Behavioral Health for the First Responder Center For Excellence, and the author of the Fire Engineering bestselling book Hope out of Darkness ~ A Guide to First Responder Mental Wellness. 

They discuss the importance of understanding mental health struggles through the lens of environmental factors rather than personal blame. The conversation emphasizes the significance of patience, emotional intelligence, and the need to address root causes of mental health issues rather than just treating symptoms. In this conversation, Dena Ali discusses the importance of shifting from a reactive to a proactive approach in mental health, particularly for first responders. She emphasizes building resilience through adversity, the power of gratitude, and the significance of humor in coping with stress. Dena also highlights the critical role of sleep in maintaining mental and physical health, and the need for first responders to have tools and strategies - including play - to manage their mental wellness effectively. 

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Mental Wellness in First Responders

• 02:01 Understanding Struggles and Environment

• 03:22 Personal Journey to Mental Wellness

• 08:54 The Role of Adversity in Growth

• 11:58 From Research to Action: A Turning Point

• 18:09 The Impact of Sharing Experiences

• 22:02 Courage and Emotional Intelligence in Advocacy

• 24:33 Patience and the Long Road to Change

• 28:48 Getting Upstream: Addressing Root Causes

• 29:13 From Reaction to Prevention: A Shift in Perspective

• 30:25 Building Resilience: The Power of Adversity

• 31:55 The Importance of Gratitude in Challenging Times

• 34:49 Managing Stress: The Stress Bucket Analogy

• 36:58 The Role of Humor in First Responder Culture

• 41:11 Understanding Sleep: A Critical Component of Health

• 52:19 Empowering First Responders: Tools for Mental Wellness

• 54:08 The Balance of Play and Work

Links

• Connect with Dena:

  • LinkedIn: Dena Ali

  • Instagram: @dma1096

  • Website: firstrespondercenter.org

• Get Dena's Book: Hope Out of Darkness

• Get Your Copy of  F*ck Your Feelings

  •  Audible

  • Amazon

• Connect with Ryan:

  • Website

  • Follow Ryan on Instagram

  • Subscribe to Ryan's YouTube Channel

  • Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn

• Save 10% on your first melin hat, the world's best hats: Use the code MoveTheChains10 at melin.com