How to Help Someone in Crisis: Mental Health Warriors — Like John Wick — RESPOND
- Bruce Schutter
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
My phone buzzed at 2:00 a.m. Normally, I’d assume it was spam. But this time, the screen flashed a single name: “John Wick.”
“Bruce,” the text read. “I need your help. Several of my friends are struggling with mental health challenges. They’re lost, hurting. I want to help them — and I don’t want to fail them.
You created the Mental Health Warrior Program. What should I do?”
Now, I don’t know what kind of karma I earned to have John Wick sliding into my messages, but there it was. The guy who once took out an entire mob over a puppy was now asking me about mental health.
And honestly? I couldn’t have been prouder. Because if John Wick knows the importance of taking care of people in crisis — so should the rest of us.
So I told him to come over, despite the time.
And waiting for him on my table was just the thing: my brand-new book, Mental Health Warriors RESPOND to Crisis.
John Knows My Story
John came to me because he knows my story — how I spent 20 years battling Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. Those struggles left me feeling so powerless that I tried to end my life.
But in that dark time, I discovered something life-changing: mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
Armed with that truth, I created the Mental Health Warrior Program — a bold SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge!
But the program also teaches this: When someone you care about is spiraling, you don’t need an official diagnosis or perfect words.
You need a clear plan — and the courage to show up.
That’s why I wrote Mental Health Warriors RESPOND to Crisis — to help everyday people move from “I don’t know what to do” to calm, confident action.
How to RESPOND
The RESPOND mnemonic guides you in taking action when someone is in crisis:
R — Recognize the signs
E — Engage with compassion
S — Stay grounded
P — Provide safety
O — Open hope
N — Navigate next steps
D — Dedicate to follow-through
I told John, “Let’s get started — I’ll help you take those first steps.”
R — Recognize the Signs
I told John the first step in helping someone in crisis is recognizing when something isn’t right.
I learned that while helping a friend who suddenly started pulling away — short answers, missed calls, avoiding people.
Most folks might have assumed he was just being difficult. But those changes were warning signs.
Because I recognized them as distress instead of attitude, I reached out with concern — and that opened the door for a real conversation.
Recognizing the signs doesn’t solve everything. But it lets you spot the storm before it swallows someone you care about.
John's Takeaway:
John thought for a moment. “That reminds me of Sofia. She gets cold and distant when she’s hurting — but it’s not anger, it’s pain.
If I’d known this earlier, maybe I would’ve approached her differently.”
Exactly. Recognizing the signs shifts you from missing the warning lights to being the kind of friend who notices and cares.
E — Engage with Compassion
I told John that the next step is engaging with compassion.
I learned how powerful this can be while helping a friend who was clearly struggling but pretending everything was fine. Instead of pushing for answers or trying to fix things, I simply said, “Hey, I’ve noticed you seem off lately. If you want to talk, I’m here.”
That small moment changed everything.
When your engage with compassion — you create a safe moment where someone feels seen instead of judged.
John's Takeaway:
John leaned back and thought for a moment.
“That could’ve helped Marcus,” he said. “He always tried to tough it out. Maybe he just needed someone to say they saw him.”
Exactly.
Compassion doesn’t need perfect words — it just needs the courage to show up.
S — Stay Grounded
This is the part where I leaned in.
“John, you’ve been in firefights. You know the importance of staying calm. When someone’s in crisis, emotions run high. They may lash out, break down or spiral.
If you panic or get swept up in it, you can’t help them.”
He replied, “So… like when bullets are flying and I slow my breathing and focus?”
“Exactly,” I said. “When I’ve helped friends through tough moments, the most important thing I could do was stay steady. I focused on breathing, listening and being present.”
Stay grounded in the moment. Your calm presence helps someone else feel safe enough to steady themselves.
John's Takeaway:
John nodded.
“Useful. There are nights I’ve sat with people who’ve lost everything. I didn’t know what to say. But maybe staying calm was enough.”
Exactly.
Sometimes the greatest help in a crisis isn’t perfect words — it’s your steady presence.
SHIELD for Self-Care
“John,” I added, “this isn’t just about helping others. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Even Warriors run out of strength if they never recharge.”
“That’s why the book includes the SHIELD mnemonic — a self-care system that helps Warriors protect their own mental health while supporting others.”
John nodded slowly.
“Makes sense,” he said. “On a mission, if I don’t take time to rest, reload and refocus, I make mistakes — and people get hurt.”
Exactly.
Taking care of yourself isn’t weakness. It’s strategy.
Wrap Up
Here’s the thing: you don’t have to be John Wick to help someone in a mental health crisis. You don’t need martial arts training or a bulletproof suit. What you need is a plan, compassion and the courage to step in.
That’s what Mental Health Warriors RESPOND to Crisis is all about. It empowers everyday heroes — friends, parents, neighbors, teachers and managers — to help when it matters most.
John glanced at the clock and said, “You better get some sleep, Bruce — or neither of us will have the strength to help our friends in the morning.”
And he was right.
Whether you’re a world-famous hitman or a regular person trying to be there for someone you love, you have the power to RESPOND — to move from confusion to confident action and turn care into courage.
So the next time someone in your life is struggling, don’t freeze. Don’t look away. RESPOND.
Because sometimes the difference between despair and hope is simply someone who cared enough to show up!
Bruce Schutter
Every day is a chance to choose strength — because YOU'RE IN CHARGE!
Comments