A Journey through Generational and Historical Trauma to Advocate for Mental Health with with Walter Frankel

Connecting Seniors (Kintsugi Heroes)

The son of Holocaust survivors, Walter Frankel grew up in Rhodesia and South Africa before moving to Australia. His parents' experiences during the war profoundly shaped his upbringing, instilling in him a strong sense of resilience and adaptability.

Coming from a dysfunctional family, Frankel struggled with the impact of his parents' trauma on his own life. He experienced estrangement from his wife and children and learned to cope with breakdowns in intimate relationships through work.

Through his challenges, Walter worked to change his belief and value systems. He acknowledged his passive-aggressive tendencies inherited from his father and strived to overcome them, demonstrating a commitment to personal growth and self-improvement.

From his parents' experiences during the war to his own challenges, Walter has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to change. He reflects on his transition from a working life to a position of needing help with his significant mental health challenges, including a major breakdown.

This experience led him to become passionate about learning about mental health, becoming a mental health first aider and suicide prevention advocate.

He dedicates his time to volunteering for various organizations, always making himself available to help others. Walter believes in the importance of passing on valuable information, engaging in meaningful conversations, and being empathetic in today's society.

Drawing inspiration from Viktor Frankl Walter emphasizes the importance of choosing what resonates and making choices in life. He highlights the significance of using life's experiences for the betterment of mankind, leaving a lasting legacy.

Biography

Walter is retired. He was previously a senior corporate executive/project manager in various roles, from management accounting, administration, sales & marketing in FMCG and retail, including hospitality, restaurant operations, and events management, to IT operational roles.

Over the past 15 years, he has been extensively involved in Vocational Educational Management - Training and Assessment as a subject matter expert in Leadership & Management and Project Management.

Now he trains people in Mental Health First Aid and Suicide Prevention as a First Responder. Runs Discussion Groups and presents workshops and selected mini-courses on subjects such as - Negotiations, Conflict Resolution, Strategy, Emotional Intelligence, youth matters, Leadership & Management, Project Management and more.

Facilitates discussion groups to Seniors on how to address “Difficult Conversations” and life planning necessary to become resilient and Empowered. Individuals are given a safe place to discuss and learn how to cope with life challenges, address difficult conversations with family and others, prepare and sort out their personal affairs in a way that they would like, and ensure that they are stored in a safe. secure and accessible when required.

Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walterfrankel/

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We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This Limited Kintsugi Heroes podcast series was made possible with grant funding from the NSW Department of Communities & Justice Connecting Seniors Grant Program. To find out more about the program, head to https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/connecting-seniors-grant-program-2025.