Mental Health Awareness Month: Take Action with Marvin the “Mental Health Warrior” Cat
Bruce Schutter- May 2
- 4 min read
Enter Marvin, the Warrior Cat Who Doesn’t Do Subtle
It all started on a Tuesday that felt like a Monday—you know the kind. I was at my desk, sipping my diet soda and pretending my inbox didn’t exist, when I heard the familiar sound of judgmental feline silence.
Marvin the “Mental Health Warrior Cat” had arrived!
Now, if you don’t know Marvin, he’s a smug, overly confident, espresso-loving feline who also happens to be a Mental Health Warrior. He knows my story. How I struggled for 20 years with Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD from my time as an EMT. How I hit rock bottom and tried to end my life. But in that darkness, I found something life-changing: Mental Health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
That truth led me to create the Mental Health Warrior Program—a new SELF-HELP approach, designed to help everyone take charge of their emotions, triumph over challenges and build the life you really want!
Marvin's taken that mission personally. He’s turned into a fuzzy, emotionally intelligent powerhouse of self-help wisdom—and this May, for Mental Health Awareness Month, he’s got something to say.
Marvin's Bold Opening Statement:
"Awareness is a great starting point. But Action is Powerful."
Then he dropped his three actions to kickstart your warrior journey—TODAY!
No fluff. No excuses. Just Marvin-approved mental health strategy.
Action 1: “Bend Not Break”
"Bruce," Marvin said, flicking his tail with exaggerated seriousness, "next time life drop-kicks you emotionally, try the Mental Health Warrior Creed: 'Bend, Not Break.'"
I raised an eyebrow. "What if I can’t even bend in yoga, Marvin?"
He gave me the kind of stare only a cat can deliver. "That’s because you confuse emotional flexibility with physical coordination. Try bending your mind, not your hamstrings."
Why It Works:
This mindset shift reminds us that we don’t have to shatter under pressure. Emotions are like thunderstorms—loud, messy, temporary. The Warrior doesn’t pretend the weather is always sunny—they just carry an emotional umbrella, maybe a metaphorical raincoat, and keep moving forward.
"Bending" means allowing yourself to feel things—fear, frustration, grief—without collapsing under them. You give emotions space, but you don’t let them take the wheel (or, as Marvin would say, the laser pointer).
Your Turn:
When something stressful happens today—a rude email, a burnt bagel, a gas pump that asks you 12 questions before giving you fuel—pause. Take a breath. Say the creed: "Bend, Not Break."
Then take one small action that keeps you grounded. Text a friend. Take a five-minute walk. Pet a smug cat who thinks he invented mindfulness. You don’t need to feel perfect—you just need to stay in motion.
Action 2: Stop Waiting—Use the "Do It Anyway" Rule
Marvin stared at me from atop my desk, one paw casually swatting at my journal."You’re not always going to feel like taking care of your mental health," he declared. "Do it anyway."
I raised an eyebrow. "You mean like brushing my teeth before my diet soda?" "Exactly," he said. "We’re not savages, Bruce."
Then he licked his paw dramatically, like he’d just dropped the mic and cleaned it at the same time.
Why It Works:
Waiting for motivation is like waiting for a cat to respect personal boundaries—it’s not coming. But action creates momentum.
Mental Health Warriors don’t rely on feeling inspired. They use systems. Structure. Habit. If you only act when the mood is perfect, you’ll live in the motivational Bermuda Triangle—where good intentions go to die next to unused gym memberships and untouched self-help books.
Doing it anyway—even with a bad attitude—builds discipline, and discipline builds strength.
Your Turn:
Pick one warrior tool today:
Go for a walk (even if it's just to the mailbox)
Journal like you're writing to your future self (or to Marvin—he will critique your penmanship)
Read a single page from a Mental Health Warrior book
Set a timer. Do it, even if your brain says, “Ugh.”
Bonus:
Roll your eyes while doing it. That counts as emotional honesty and aerobic eye movement.
Action 3: Replace Stigma With Strategy
Marvin hopped up onto the windowsill, tail swishing like he was preparing to drop some heavy truth.
“People treat mental health like it’s meant to be whispered behind a curtain,” he purred. “Let’s stop that nonsense. Talk about it. Daily. Loudly, if necessary. It’s how we break the stigma.”
I blinked. “So… like a support group but in line at Starbucks?” “Exactly,” Marvin said. “Mental health is not a secret society. It’s a normal human experience. Let’s stop acting like it's classified information from Area 51.”
Why It Works:
Stigma thrives in silence. The less we talk about mental health, the more it feels shameful or strange. But when we bring it into the light—conversations, coffee chats, even cat memes—it becomes approachable, real, and actionable.
Talking about it builds community. And community gives us backup. And when you’ve got backup? You feel less alone, more supported, and a whole lot stronger.
Your Turn:
Tell someone you’re working on your mental health. Just one person. Bonus points if it's a coworker, family member, or cashier who compliments your shirt.
Or post: "This Mental Health Awareness Month, I’m starting my warrior journey. #MentalHealthWarrior"
If Marvin had thumbs, he’d give that a like.
Final Thoughts from Marvin (and Me)
Marvin licked his paw with the smug satisfaction of a cat who just dropped wisdom and knocked your self-doubt off the counter. “Bruce,” he said, “Mental Health Awareness Month isn’t just about knowing. It’s about doing. Awareness is the invitation. Action is the RSVP. Now show up.”
I nodded, grabbed my Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin, my copy of “53 Mindset Rules of a Mental Health Warrior” and my trusty diet soda.
This May, don’t just think about mental health—build it. Start with one warrior action. Big or small. Pick a rule. Use a tool. Share your truth. Because that first step? That’s where all the power lives. Go, Mental Health Warriors, Go!
Bruce Schutter
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