From the Police Frontlines to the Mental Health Frontlines: Beth's Journey of Resilience and Social Impact
Working as a police officer in remote Northern Territory, Beth Garwood, experienced firsthand the challenges of working in remote communities. Witnessing unthinkable trauma, it took a profound emotional toll, but over time Beth found the strength to begin a new chapter. Now working in mental health, Beth has recently been awarded a social impact scholarship by the Centre for Social Impact to effect meaningful change.
From Tasmania to Tennant Creek: A Mission to Make a Difference
From a young age, Beth was on a mission to make a difference. At 20, Beth joined the police force and moved from their hometown of Tasmania to the Northern Territory. Before long, the officer was assigned to Tennant Creek, a remote community in the centre of the NT.
“For a small town of 3000 people, the 50 police officers stationed there were under-resourced to deal with extremely high rates of crime and disadvantage,” Beth explains.
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Beth thrived on the intensity of the job, working long hours on a relentless mission to make a difference.
“As horrible and stressful as my job could be, I loved it. I was so desperate to contribute to achieving better outcomes in a community faced with so much disadvantage,” Beth recalls.
Their dedication didn’t go unnoticed. Beth was appointed to lead an operation aimed at addressing the town’s rampant alcohol-fuelled violence, including domestic and family violence, sexual violence, and child abuse. This was on top of an already large workload investigating serious crimes as a part of a small three-person unit of investigators. But, driven by a relentless passion, Beth conceptualised a holistic response plan that involved mapping out the needs of the 100 most at-risk children and families. It was an ambitious, one-person crusade to protect the vulnerable.
The Cost of Caring: A Battle with Mental Health
But as the months wore on, the scale of the problem took its toll, leading to a dangerous cycle of overwork, neglect of personal health, and a deteriorating mental state. Despite the outward appearance of a dedicated officer getting things done, inside, Beth was unravelling.
When three “horrific” incidents involving children occurred in the community, Beth’s sense of failure was overwhelming.
“As my operation focused on protecting children, I felt like it was MY fault, that I had failed to protect them. I felt an indescribable amount of guilt, absolutely worthless, and utterly destroyed,” Beth shares.
The intense stress and emotional toll had triggered a severe mental health crisis, and Beth was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, triggered by PTSD and moral injury.
Finding Strength in Vulnerability
For many people, such a diagnosis might feel like the end, but for this former officer, it was a relief.
“To some people, that news may be heartbreaking (due to stigma). But I have never felt so relieved in my life. To have an explanation for how I had been feeling and the extreme ups and downs. To learn that I did not have to continue living that way,” Beth explains.
The diagnosis marked the beginning of a long journey of recovery and learning to manage their mental health.
Key to Beth’s recovery was a simple but powerful concept called the ‘pie’ of life. The pie represents the different segments of daily activities that contribute to well-being. By maintaining balance and ensuring no one segment dominates, Beth learned to manage stress and maintain mental health.
Beth returned to policing for another 18months.
“I moved into non-operational roles to limit exposure to triggers like excessive stress, trauma and irregular sleep schedules. But stigma is a serious issue for those living with bipolar, and I felt that my mental health was something I had to hide and be ashamed of,” Beth reveals.
Realising that policing was no longer the right path, Beth made the courageous decision to leave and pursue new opportunities.
Turning Adversity into Empowerment
In 2020, Beth moved to Canberra to study Public Policy with a focus on Indigenous Policy at ANU. Soon after, a chance encounter with Mental Illness Education ACT (MIEACT) opened a new door.
At MIEACT, Beth transformed their experiences with PTSD and bipolar disorder into a powerful tool for raising awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting early help-seeking. Beth’s message is clear: “No matter what adversity you face, everyone can find the tools and support they need.”
As the Volunteer Engagement & Development Manager, Beth now empowers others to share their stories and promotes a society where mental health is a shared responsibility and stigma is reduced.
Applying Social Impact for Greater Change
In 2024 Beth was awarded a $10,000 scholarship by the Centre for Social Impact to undertake a Graduate Certificate in Social Impact at Flinders University .
“I was lost for words when I received the notification I had won a scholarship. This scholarship has been a tremendous financial relief, has served as validation of my hard work and dedication to effecting meaningful and sustainable change in the community, but most of all, it inspires me to continue striving for excellence in my studies and beyond.”
Beth is now applying the knowledge and skills gained from the Graduate Certificate, to enhance their work at MIEACT.
“As Lived Experience is rapidly gaining recognition across sectors in Australia, I believe this is a critical time to ensure it is shared, engaged and utilised in a safe, sustainable and impactful way.
“Through my social impact studies, I am quickly developing a strong understanding of the national scale of collaboration necessary to achieve change. The course is helping me understand what my role is, how to operate in the larger system, and how to leverage power and influence others for the greatest social impact,” Beth said.
Beth’s journey from policing to mental health advocacy is a testament to the power of resilience, the importance of mental health awareness, and the impact of education in driving social change. Beth’s advice to others? To achieve a happier and more fulfilling life, try these three key practices:
- Maintain balance in your Pie of Life
- Practice and prioritise self-care – which can be as simple as asking yourself ‘What do I do for no other reason than it puts a smile on my face?’ Then do it!
- Find what works for your (tools, strategies and support systems) and just keep doing it.
Find out more about the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact