Congratulations to our CXPanel$ member Belinda Neil who today was awarded a Certificate of Commendation for Leadership and Lived Experience at the Mental Health Matters Awards 2019 for her book 'Under Seige' Belinda is board director for Fearless and a Former Police Inspector.
Belinda talks on one of our CXBank$ panels about her own lived experience of Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) and offers hope to those impacted Domestic and Family Violence and subsequently diagnosed with PTSD.
As a former New South Wales Police Inspector, Belinda talks to the impact of PTSD on lives and continues to raise awareness about PTSD and research methods of early intervention and management tools for PTSD.
One of the consistent themes raised by the panels at CXBank$ to be broadcast on World Mental Health Day, October 10, is the sheer scale of victim/survivor mental health injury.
A great number of Victim/Survivors suffer alone with PTSD and are largely left to themselves to manage the debilitating effects of PTSD. Trying to stay in employment, return to employment, manage mental health issues, financial abuse ramifications is a burden that few would question can be totally overwhelming and retraumatising. How is it that we aren't doing more to support the mental health and recovery of victim/survivors of Domestic and Family Abuse?
About Under Seige
Belinda Neil lived and breathed her high-octane job. She relished her roles as a homicide investigator and hostage negotiator with the New South Wales police force, but she never knew what her work day might bring. She could be investigating brutal murders such as the De Gruchy killings or, in her negotiator role, persuading the murderous and suicidal to drop their weapons, stop terrorising their families, step back from the ledge.
It was hardly surprising that over time the horrors she saw began to take their toll. After years of broken sleep, traumatic crime scenes and death, one disastrous weekend brought everything to a head. The next morning when she awoke, Belinda found she was shaking so badly she could not get out of bed. A short time later, Belinda found herself contemplating jumping off a cliff in the Moreton Bay National Park. She had even written the suicide note.
Under Siege shows us the remarkable job homicide investigators and hostage negotiators perform, and their endurance and courage in impossible circumstances. More than that, this brave memoir reveals how the daily trauma and stress affected Belinda’s roles as wife and mother and how she fought against the terrifying post traumatic stress disorder that resulted to come back from a very dark place
Her 18 year career as a police officer included undercover operations, major crime and homicide investigation, and as a police hostage negotiator trained to counter terrorist level.
She was medically retired in 2005 due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Her best selling memoir ‘Under Siege’, outlines her policing experiences and the ‘lived experience’ with PTSD.
Career Highlights
Belinda Neil joined the NSW Police in 1987 at the age of 19.
During her eighteen year police career she worked in general duties, as an undercover operative, and as a major crime squad detective investigating illicit drug operations, organised crime, and homicide.
Belinda was also a police hostage negotiator and trained at Counter Terrorist level.
At 32 she was a Team Leader for one of only five Counter Terrorist Negotiation Teams for the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
In 2002 Belinda was promoted to the rank of Inspector, one of the youngest operational inspectors in the state at that time.
In 2005 Belinda medically retired due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, developed as a result of the many traumatic incidents she had attended.
One of Belinda's main aims is to raise awareness about Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD . After undergoing years of therapy for PTSD, Belinda became aware of numerous hard working police officers and defence personnel who were also medically retired due to PTSD, some committing suicide as a result of their traumatic experiences.
After learning so much in therapy and what had helped on her road to recovery, Belinda felt she might be able to make a difference to others by telling her story in her book 'Under Siege'.
If you would like to attend CXBank$ the ONLINE webinar style gathering on World Mental Health Day, October 10 get your free ticket here
#CXBanks discusses the intersection of Domestic and Family Violence, Mental Health and Financial Abuse.
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