Founders' Fears & Failures

Creating The Product He Needed: The Story Of A Firefighter Turned Mental Health App Founder with Andrew Douglas

• Dr. Melissa Parks • Episode 16

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In this week’s episode I’m introducing you to Andrew Douglas, a firefighter turned mental health app co-founder.

This episode is an intense one and I want to warn you that there is mention of suicide as well as a traumatic event that contributed to Andrew’s PTSD while working as a firefighter. However, all this serves to highlight the importance of his company’s mission and I hope you’ll feel as inspired as I did about the work he’s doing to share with the world the mental health app that he wishes he would have had at his darkest moments.

Andrew dedicated several years of his life to serving his community as a firefighter/paramedic and union leader before he personally struggled with PTSD. This experience showed him the importance of mental health support which led him to co-found Siento, a stigma-free mobile application platform designed to help first responders and professionals in high-stress industries. (note: “Siento” means “to feel” in Spanish).

Siento’s mission is to provide a safe and anonymous space for people to share their feelings, connect with others who understand their challenges, and access the mental health assistance they need. They believe that by fostering an environment of understanding and compassion, they can make a positive impact on the lives of those who serve our communities and work under immense pressure.

In this interview, I learned about research showing that more firefighters die by suicide each year than in the line of duty. I hope this episode helps to raise awareness about this important cause and the work Andrew and his team are doing to change these disturbing statistics.

If you, or anyone you know, is suicidal, don’t hesitate to call 988 (in the United States) or visit this website for a list of crisis lines around the globe: https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/

Find Andrew online:

Connect with your host, Dr. Melissa Parks, elsewhere:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacparks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissaparksphd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaparksphd/

Website: https://melissaparks.com/

Schedule a free 30 min. discovery call with Melissa to see if coaching with her would be a good fit: https://melissaparks.com/free-consultation-call/

If you’d like additional support for your mental and emotional well-being as a founder please visit Melissa’s website for a list of resources to help you find a coach, therapist, or peer support.