Join Matt Ballard, engineer/paramedic, and member of Local 3147 Balch Springs, TX, on a journey toward mental wellness. Unbeknownst to him, Matt was experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress; and was not sure where to turn. Matt’s journey toward healing was not a straightforward path, and Matt will share the importance of not giving up in the process of working through challenging symptoms. Matt has since become a behavioral health champion; providing educational presentations on signs of mental health challenges for first responders, and through starting his own podcast, Free Burn 2023. This webinar will explore various mental health challenges, potential barriers to accessing treatment, common stigmas to overcome, and the hope and healing available through one’s recovery.