Forensic Focus

📝 Complete the Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study: https://www.forensicfocus.com/survey Bunmi Bloom, co-founder of Sena Forensics, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss the emotional reality of working in digital forensics and the psychological toll of long-term exposure to traumatic material. Drawing on her background with the Metropolitan Police and the Financial Conduct Authority, Bunmi reflects on how DFIR practitioners navigate disturbing images, case reports, and the pressure to "stay strong and get on with it." The conversation explores coping mechanisms inside the lab, the vital role of social support, and how desensitisation can develop over time. Bunmi shares why many investigators feel unable to speak openly, how team culture shapes resilience, and what better preparation for new DFIs could look like. She also considers whether psychological screening, mentoring, and leadership-driven change could help create safer, more supportive forensic workplaces.  #digitalforensics #DFIR #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #Policing #CSAM 00:00 Introducing Bunmi Bloom 00:39 Sena Forensics: Mission and Services 03:44 Professional Background 05:35 The Impactful LinkedIn Post 07:50 Emotional Challenges in Digital Forensics 10:55 Coping Mechanisms and Social Support 15:20 Desensitization and Emotional Detachment 18:39 Preparation and Support for New DFIs 22:56 The Importance of Recognizing Stressors 25:16 The Role of Social Support 28:27 Cultural Shifts in Mental Health Awareness 31:53 Psychological Screening in Recruitment 38:53 Systemic Change and Leadership 41:20 Final Thoughts and Recommendations 👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com 🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/preparing-investigators-for-trauma-exposure-in-digital-forensics/ 📝 Show Notes Sena Forensics on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sena-forensics-bunmi-bloom-76a592374/ Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study - https://www.forensicfocus.com/survey 👉 Follow Forensic Focus RSS | https://www.forensicfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ForensicFocus Podcast | https://forensicfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://linkedin.com/company/forensicfocus LinkedIn Group | https://linkedin.com/groups/693917 X (Twitter) | 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