023: Beneath the Badge, Identity & Starting Again - Matty Newlands

Matty Newlands thought he was managing. Until one day, he wasn’t.

In this episode of Behind the Badge, Matty shares how the weight of the job slowly crept in—changing how he saw himself, how he connected with others, and how he coped in silence. After leaving the police, the fallout only got louder.

Now a councilor, mental health advocate and co-founder of frontline mental health, Matty talks openly about identity, burnout, and the power of finally speaking up.

We explore:

• “Everything comes at a cost”—how the job changed him

• Suppressing emotion and losing connection

• What happened when the structure fell away

• How owning his story helped him start again

If you’ve ever struggled with what the job takes—and what’s left behind—this one’s for you.

To find out more about Frontline Mental Health:

Frontline Mental Health

Music thanks to:

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