Well-Being In Digital Forensics And Policing: Insights From Hannah Bailey
Hannah Bailey, founder of Blue Light Wellbeing, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to share her powerful journey from frontline policing to becoming a psychotherapist, trauma therapist, and well-being coach. Drawing on 15 years in the police — including CID and major crime — Hannah brings unique cultural credibility to her work supporting digital forensics professionals, first responders, and other high-risk roles. She talks openly about living with PTSD and burnout, facing two breast cancer diagnoses, and how those experiences inspired her to focus on proactive mental health support. Hannah and Paul discuss why cultural awareness in therapy matters, how approaches like psychoeducation and regular supervision can help, and why therapy isn’t just for people who are “broken.” Hannah also explains BrainWorking Recursive Therapy (BWRT), a modern trauma therapy that transformed her own recovery, and shares practical advice for those in digital forensics and other trauma-facing roles on spotting early signs of stress and building long-term resilience. #DigitalForensics #DFIR #MentalHealth #WellBeing #PTSD 00:00 Introduction 02:44 Hannah Bailey's Background and Career 04:08 The Onset of Mental Health Challenges 06:01 Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Its Impact 06:37 Returning to Policing and Further Challenges 09:44 Lack of Support 12:14 Proactive Mental Health Approaches 17:18 Hannah's Work with DFIs and Other Forces 20:22 The Importance of Early Intervention 26:28 The Value of Therapy in Organizations 27:35 The Importance of Culturally Aware Therapists 29:29 Introduction to Brain Work Recursive Therapy (BWRT) 33:52 Combining Trauma Therapy and Wellbeing Coaching 34:32 The Therapeutic Process and Its Benefits 36:21 Supervision and Support in Therapy 36:57 Proactive Approaches in Digital Forensics 39:11 Building Trust and Non-Judgmental Spaces 43:30 Final Thoughts 🎥 Video/Transcript - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/well-being-in-digital-forensics-and-policing-insights-from-hannah-bailey/ 📝 Show Notes Blue Light Wellbeing - https://www.bluelightwellbeing.uk 👉 Follow us here: RSS | https://www.forensicfocus.com/feed/ Youtube | https://youtube.com/@UCQajlJPesqmyWJDN52AZI4Q Podcast | https://forensicfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://linkedin.com/company/forensicfocus LinkedIn Group | https://linkedin.com/groups/693917 X | https://x.com/ForensicFocus Facebook | https://facebook.com/forensicfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/forensicfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://instagram.com/forensicfocus TikTok | https://tiktok.com/@forensicfocus Mastodon | https://dfir.social/@forensicfocus Website | https://www.forensicfocus.com
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Digital Forensics And Stress: Understanding Your Body’s Signals
Dr Zoe Billings and Mark Pannone from Adapt & Evolve join Paul to discuss their unique approach to mental health and well-being in digital forensics. Dr Billings is a biologist and former senior investigator, while Mark is a former Assistant Chief Constable. Together they've developed a model that focuses on recognising the early biological signs of stress rather than waiting for mental health problems to develop. They discuss how stress shows up physically in the body, why many digital forensic investigators feel unheard in their organisations, and why standard well-being support often doesn't work in law enforcement. The conversation covers practical stress reduction techniques and how understanding what stress does to your body can help people spot problems early. Mark and Zoe have worked with various organisations including the FBI, using their combined decades of police and investigative experience to provide support that actually fits the culture of law enforcement and forensic work. #DigitalForensics #CyberInvestigation #DFIR #Wellbeing 00:00 Introduction 00:22 Spotlight on Mental Health in Digital Forensics 00:59 Meet the Experts: Dr. Zoe Billings and Mark Pannone 01:39 The Origins of Adapt & Evolve 03:48 Biological Aspects of Stress 04:57 Implementing Preventative Measures 09:05 Leadership and Organizational Challenges 20:01 Physical Ailments from Stress 26:09 Cultural Awareness in Law Enforcement 31:45 ISO Standards and Legal Obligations 39:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Show Notes Adapt & Evolve - https://www.adaptandevolve.co.uk/
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Well-Being Interventions For Forensic Practitioners – Have Your Say
Dr Jo Morrissey joins Paul to discuss her research into wellbeing challenges faced by forensic practitioners worldwide. As Workforce Strategy Lead at the Forensic Capability Network, Dr Morrissey is conducting a comprehensive study examining mental health impacts across all forensic disciplines - from digital forensics to crime scene investigation, DNA analysis, and fingerprint examination. They explore the unique psychological pressures forensic practitioners face, including exposure to traumatic material, working in isolation, and the barriers that prevent many from seeking help. Dr Morrissey discusses how stigma around help-seeking behavior and fears about career prospects continue to affect practitioners, and why evidence-based national guidelines are urgently needed. Take part in the research: Dr Morrissey is seeking responses from current and former forensic practitioners worldwide across all disciplines and sectors. The survey examines well-being challenges, available interventions, and their effectiveness. Your participation could help shape future well-being support for the forensic community. Survey closes Friday 4th July 2025. Survey link: https://forms.office.com/e/GXPMwnpyMi #ForensicScience #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #DigitalForensics 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Jo Morrissey 01:31 Overview of the Wellbeing Study 03:34 Challenges Faced by Forensic Practitioners 08:25 Survey Specifics and Goals 14:57 Barriers and Stigma in Wellbeing 18:49 Ethical Considerations and Future Research 20:09 Open Access to Research Report 20:38 National Guidelines for Wellbeing 22:00 Challenges in Implementing Guidelines 25:07 Importance of Survey Participation 27:02 Potential for Funding and Further Research 28:06 Exploring Differences in Wellbeing 30:51 Impact of Experience and Culture on Wellbeing 33:39 Resilience and Adverse Childhood Experiences 37:05 Closing Remarks and Future Research
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Tom Oldroyd From Semantics 21 On Protecting Investigators And Reducing CSAM Exposure
Host Paul Gullon-Scott sits down with Tom Oldroyd, Director of Strategy and Sales at Semantics 21, to discuss S21’s digital forensics platform that prioritizes investigator mental health alongside cutting-edge technology. Drawing on his 17 years in policing and experience running a digital forensic unit, Tom highlights the psychological toll on investigators exposed to disturbing content daily, arguing it's one of the most challenging yet underrecognized jobs in policing. Tom highlights Semantics 21's innovative solutions, including their Global Alliance Database with 3.1 billion hashes that can pre-label up to 70% of evidence automatically, AI-powered victim rescue tools, and their groundbreaking features to track investigator exposure levels in real-time. Tom demonstrates protective features like mandatory break reminders, privacy overlays, and decompression videos designed to help investigators manage psychological impact. #DigitalForensics #CyberInvestigation #DFIR #AI #Wellbeing 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Showcasing Semantics 21: Innovation in Digital Forensics 00:40 Protecting Investigator Wellbeing 01:53 Meet Tom Oldroyd 02:56 Challenges in Digital Forensics 06:02 The Growing Threat of Digital Crime 07:38 Global Collaboration and Technology 08:48 Introducing S21 LASERi-X 09:33 The Power of AI and Databases 12:23 Global Alliance Database: A Game Changer 16:52 Efficiency and Investigator Wellbeing 21:11 Advanced Features and Workflow 27:51 Tracking Exposure Levels with Semantics 21 28:20 Monitoring Well-Being 29:13 Handling Large Volumes of Data 30:24 Threshold System and Victim Rescue 32:27 Efficient Data Import and Grading 33:27 Global Alliance Database and Photo DNA 36:32 Wellbeing Features and Stress Management 44:00 Cross-Company Collaboration and Data Sharing 45:38 Pricing and Accessibility of Semantics 21 47:54 User Feedback and Customization 51:12 AI Location Prediction Technology 53:42 Conclusion and Contact Information Show Notes Semantics 21 - https://www.semantics21.com Semantics 21 Articles on Forensic Focus - https://www.forensicfocus.com/author/semantics21
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Hexordia's Jessica Hyde: Navigating The Future Of Digital Forensics
Jessica Hyde from Hexordia joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss her unique journey from Marine Corps avionics technician to digital forensics expert. Jessica shares how her military background provided transferable skills for forensic investigations, emphasizing the importance of documentation, troubleshooting, and diverse perspectives in finding truth in digital evidence. The conversation explores critical topics including IoT forensics challenges, the urgent need for timely data acquisition before evidence degrades, and the role of AI in forensic analysis. Jessica also discusses her experience teaching at George Mason University since 2016, how students' questions enhance her own knowledge, and why interdisciplinary teams create better forensic outcomes. With candid reflections on maintaining perspective while handling difficult cases and thoughts on the future challenges of policy and law keeping pace with technology, this episode offers valuable insights for both seasoned professionals and those new to digital forensics. #DigitalForensics #MobileForensics #CyberInvestigation #DFIR #AI 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:02 Jessica Hyde's Unique Career Path 03:06 Transition to Digital Forensics 13:17 Teaching and Learning in Digital Forensics 20:12 Hands-On Forensics and IoT Devices 24:19 The Importance of Interdisciplinary Teams 27:12 Humor and Levity in Forensics 29:38 The Role of Cyber Investigators 31:07 Bias in Cyber Investigations 32:01 Generational Perspectives in Technology 33:51 Privacy Concerns in Digital Forensics 36:53 The Importance of Timely Data Acquisition 44:28 Challenges with AI in Digital Forensics 54:42 Policy and Legal Challenges in Digital Forensics 56:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Show Notes Hexordia - https://www.hexordia.com George Mason University - https://dfor.gmu.edu/person/jessica-l-hyde SWGDE - https://www.swgde.org
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