Letting Them Rot with Cliff VanDeusen

This episode brings you a raw and powerful story of crisis, recovery, and the silent battles many frontline workers face. Firefighter Cliff VanDeusen shares how a traumatic pediatric call in 2021 triggered unresolved trauma, leading to a dissociative episode, a suicide attempt, and a complex PTSD diagnosis.  We are also joined by Amanda Davarn (MA, LPC-S and EMT-B), Cliff’s clinical therapist, who offers insight into trauma treatment, medication, EMDR, and how clinicians can guide frontline workers back to themselves without trying to fix them. Together, they open the door to honest conversations about healing, support, and how departments can improve when someone returns from the edge.

Cliff’s experience is also detailed in his Firehouse Magazine article titled “Letting Them Rot,” where he speaks out about stigma, silence, and how we treat our own after a mental health crisis. This episode brings that article to life with the voices, emotions, and hard truths behind every word.  Read the article here: https://tinyurl.com/ysv4r7je 

Minds on the Frontline Podcast is brought to you by the Frontline Strong Together 5 Program. FST5 provides streamlined access to behavioral and mental health services, as well as crisis resources for Michigan’s frontline workers and their families. NEED HELP NOW? If you are a frontline worker in Michigan or an immediate family member experiencing any crisis—whether work-related, substance abuse, depression, relationships, finances, or other challenges—reach out by calling 1-833-34-STRONG or visit FST5.org for more information.

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