Mental Health Warriors RESPOND to Crisis: Insights from John Wick
- Bruce Schutter
- Oct 2
- 4 min read
My phone buzzed at 2:00 a.m. Normally, I’d assume it was spam, but this time it was from a number that simply read: “JW.”
“Bruce,” the text said. “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. So I came to you as you created the Mental health Warrior program”
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 I had just the thing for him: my brand-new book, Mental Health Warriors RESPOND to Crisis.
Why This Book Exists
I told John, “Here’s the deal. 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 what this book delivers. It’s a practical, insider’s field guide built from my two decades of lived experience battling Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders, and PTSD. It teaches everyday people a framework called RESPOND so they can move from “I don’t know what to do” to calm, confident action.
RESPOND stands for:
Recognize the signs
Engage with compassion
Stay grounded
Provide safety
Open hope
Navigate next steps
Dedicate to follow-through
And because you can’t help others if you’re running on empty, it also includes the SHIELD system — a self-care approach so you stay steady while supporting someone else.
I explained this to John, and he gave one of those long pauses you just know means he’s loading a gun in the background. Then he said, “I’ll read it. But give me a preview. How can RESPOND help me… right now?”
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 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
“Step two,” 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 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 answer: “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!
Bonus: SHIELD for Self-Care
“John,” I added, “this isn’t just about helping others. You can’t pour from an empty cup. That’s why the book includes SHIELD: a self-care system so Warriors protect themselves, too.”
He asked, “What’s SHIELD stand for?”
I grinned. “Self-care, Have support, Invest in joy, Establish boundaries, Let go of perfection, Do what you love.”
John replied: “Boundaries… yes. I need more of that.”
If John Wick can admit he needs boundaries, so can we.
Why It Matters
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 bulletproof suits. What you need is a plan, compassion, and the courage to step in.
That’s what Mental Health Warriors RESPOND to Crisis is about. It empowers everyday people — friends, parents, neighbors, teachers, managers — to help when it matters most. It gives you the clarity to act instead of freezing, and the tools to support without losing yourself.
John Wick may face assassins in his line of work, but the rest of us face something just as real: friends and loved ones struggling with battles we can’t always see. And the truth is, no one should have to fight those battles alone.
Wrap Up
As our text exchange wound down, John wrote: “So… when someone I care about is spiraling, I don’t need to fix them. I just need to notice, show up, and stay steady.”
“Exactly,” I told him. “And don’t forget to take care of yourself, too.”
He replied, “Good. Because even a Warrior needs guidance.”
And that’s the truth. Whether you’re a world-famous hitman or a regular person just trying to be there for your friends, you have the power to RESPOND. To move from confusion to confident action. To transform care into courage.
So the next time someone in your life is struggling, don’t freeze. Don’t look away. RESPOND. Because Warriors don’t let others fight alone — and neither should you!
Bruce Schutter
Every day is a chance to choose strength — because YOU'RE IN CHARGE!
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