First Responders Mental Health Network: Survived
Join Barry Toone and Kristin as they speak with Survive First Founder, Doug Monda, about his journey through suicidal ideation, ptsd, and depression working in law enforcement.
Doug is the Founder of Survive First, Inc. and has a long standing history in law enforcement. He retired from law enforcement as an undercover narcotics agent with the Cocoa Police Department, a city in Brevard County, Florida in 2017. He began his career in public safety in 2001. In his second year of service, Doug joined the S.W.A.T. team, and subsequently attended Marine Scout Sniper Training, earning his certification with Blackwater. He spent 15 years on the Cocoa Police Department S.W.A.T. team. During his service on S.W.A.T., his experience as a sniper and team leader played a critical role in the safety of teammates and success of countless missions. During his career he has also worked on the DEA Task Force, and alongside FBI, ATF, NASA and other agencies.
Doug’s training has earned him extraordinary success in the field. In 2016 he was named Cocoa Police Department’s Officer of the Year. Additionally, throughout his career, he earned many other awards for his hard work and dedication to the City of Cocoa.
In 2013, Doug’s own mental health became impacted from his long career in law enforcement. His own experience with treatment for PTSD, depression, and attempted suicide was the catalyst that drove the founding of Survive First Foundation. Doug is now a national keynote speaker. He speaks on the impacts of a first responders job on mental health and family. His mission is to spread awareness of PTSD, depression, and suicide in first responders, hoping to break the stigma, so that help may be received before it is too late.
In his spare time, Doug enjoys spending time with his family, surfing and competing in the sport of triathlon. he has competed in the national and world championships and is a four-time Ironman triathlon finisher. Doug was a former professional soccer player and coached several teams for the YMCA, as well as youth and high school soccer teams. He currently serves as a board member for the YMCA of Cocoa and chairs their Youth Scholarship Fund.
As a member of the Board of Directors for Survive First, Doug helps set the strategic goals and objectives for the foundation.
Doug and his wife Karen are the hosts of Survived – a podcast dedicated to mental health for first responders. They just joined their podcast to Mental Health News Radio Network!
Thank you to our First Responder Mental Health Network sponsor, StepStone Connect, for joining us to host these shows and supporting this network initiative.
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