How to Help Someone in Crisis: Mental Health Warriors — Like John Wick — RESPOND

My phone buzzed at 2:00 a.m. Normally, I’d assume it was spam. But this time, the screen flashed a single name: “JW.”

“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 new SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge!

But part of the program is this: when someone you care about is spiraling, you don’t need an official diagnosis or perfect words — you just 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 him, “John, the first step is recognizing when someone’s in distress. It’s not always obvious. Sometimes it looks like anger, withdrawal, or reckless behavior.

Recognizing means you don’t ignore it or chalk it up to ‘they’ll get over it.’ You spot the storm before it swallows them.”

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

“Next,” I said, “is engaging with compassion. And no, John — that doesn’t mean a tactical takedown.”

He smirked. (Yes, I can hear a John Wick smirk through text.)

“Engaging with compassion means showing up without judgment. Sometimes it’s as simple as saying, ‘I’ve noticed you seem down — want to talk?’

It’s not about fixing them; it’s about being present. Compassion cracks the door open.”

John's Takeaway:

John said, “That could’ve helped Marcus. He always tried to tough it out, but maybe he just needed someone to say they saw him.”

Right again. Compassion doesn’t need Hollywood dialogue — it just needs humanity.

---

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. “Staying grounded means breathing, centering yourself and not making their crisis your crisis. You can be steady even if they’re not.”

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.”

Yes, John. Sometimes the greatest gift isn’t 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. “Makes sense. On a mission, if I don’t take time to rest, reload and refocus, I make mistakes — and people get hurt. 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 people — friends, parents, neighbors, teachers, 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 to transform care into courage.

So the next time someone in your life is struggling, don’t freeze. Don’t look away. RESPOND. ⚔️🛡️

Bruce Schutter

Every day is a chance to choose strength — because YOU'RE IN CHARGE!