Most Heartbreaking Story I've Ever Heard
About this episode
Matthew Griffin shares his heartbreaking story of trauma and guilt after responding to the accidental death of a young child, exploring the impact on his life and mental health.
In this episode, I sit down with Matthew Griffin, who spent 21 years serving in the military and law enforcement. During those years, Matt saw things most of us will never see. But one call would stay with him for decades. As a young police officer, Matt responded to the accidental death of two-and-a-half-year-old Benny Jr., the son of a friend. Matt was the first officer on scene and performed CPR, but Benny didn’t survive. What followed was years of guilt, nightmares, drinking, and the belief that if he had reacted just seconds sooner, maybe he could have saved him. The trauma didn’t stay at work. Slowly, Matt began losing himself, his marriage, his identity, and eventually his desire to keep living. In this episode, we talk about: The call involving two-year-old Benny Jr. that changed Matt’s life forever The hidden reality of PTSD, trauma, and mental health among police officers and first responders How undercover police work consumed Matt’s identity and contributed to the breakdown of his marriage The moments that pushed Matt toward suicide and what ultimately kept him here Why simply checking on someone can be more powerful than we realize This conversation is about what…
People in this episode
Host: Tyler Hall
Guest: Matthew Griffin
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