Percy the “PTSD” Platypus RESPONDS to Crisis: A Mental Health Warrior’s Guide for First Responders — and Everyone
- Bruce Schutter
- Nov 14
- 4 min read
It started with the wail of a siren outside my house. I thought maybe the neighbor’s barbecue had gone wrong again (the man believes lighter fluid is a food group). But then came the knock — sharp, steady, official.
I opened the door, and there stood Percy the “PTSD” Platypus. His EMT uniform was still dusted with the grit of the day, his posture sharp like a soldier, but his eyes heavy with something deeper.
“Bruce,” he said flatly, “I need backup. Not the kind with sirens — the kind that helps my crew deal with what we carry home after every shift.”
The Warrior Solution
I told Percy my story. For twenty years, I battled Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. The weight of it all left me feeling so powerless that I tried to end my life. But in that darkest moment, 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. So you can take control of your emotions, triumph over challenges and build the life you really want.
I led Percy inside. “You came at the right time. I’ve got something for you.” I handed him a fresh copy of my new book, Mental Health Warrior’s RESPOND to Crisis — a first-line guide for everyday heroes to recognize, support and stabilize someone in a mental health crisis.
Percy’s bill quivered slightly. “So this book… it’s about Warriors helping Warriors — in classrooms, in families and on the frontlines.”
He cracked open the book, scanned a few pages, then slapped it down like a tactical map. “Alright,” he said, eyes locked in. “Show me how RESPOND helps me help others.”
Example 1: The Rookie EMT in Shock
Percy leaned forward. “New guy, fresh out of training, sees his first fatal accident. He’s pale, shaking, can’t even unclip his gear. I know that look — it’s the same one I had my first deployment.”
Here’s how RESPOND helps:
Recognize: See the visible signs — trembling hands, blank stare, inability to act.
Engage (with compassion): Don’t bark orders. Sit him down. Say, “It’s okay to feel this. Everyone does on their first call.”
Provide (a safe space): Step him away from the scene. Give him a moment to breathe. Let him know he’s not weak — he’s human.
Our Turn:
I told Percy, “That’s the Warrior way to help anyone — a friend, a coworker, a family member. You’re not rescuing them from the situation… you’re rescuing them from feeling alone in it.
Recognition + Compassion = Strength.”
Percy nodded, eyes dark with memory. “If someone had done that for me back then… well, let’s just say my nightmares might’ve been fewer.”
Example 2: The Crew Member Who Shuts Down
Percy scratched his bill. “Next: my partner, tough as nails, but after a string of pediatric calls, she goes quiet. No jokes, no small talk, just staring at her boots between runs.”
That silence? It screams.
Recognize: Notice the behavioral shift. The silence is new.
Engage (with compassion): Say, “I’ve noticed you’ve been quieter lately. Just want you to know I’m here if you need to unload.”
Provide (a safe space): Maybe it’s the station kitchen over coffee. Maybe it’s a referral to a peer support group. The key: a place where speaking up doesn’t feel like weakness.
Our Turn:
I leaned in. “That’s universal, Percy. It’s not just first responders. In offices, homes, classrooms — people shut down when they’re overwhelmed. Warriors use RESPOND to help them engage with their emotions and talk about what they’re carrying, instead of shutting down.”
Percy smirked. “So what you’re saying is… sometimes the silence is louder than the sirens?”
“Exactly!”
Example 3: The Veteran Responder Meltdown
Percy sighed. “Last one. We’ve got a seasoned EMT, twenty years in. One night, a call hits too close to home — maybe reminds him of his own kid. He loses it: yelling, pacing, slamming gear. The crew doesn’t know whether to back away or call HR.”
Here’s where RESPOND shines brightest:
Recognize: This isn’t “bad attitude.” It’s accumulated trauma boiling over.
Engage (with compassion): Stay calm. Say, “I can see this hit hard. You don’t have to carry it alone.”
Provide (a safe space): Take him out of the chaos — even if it’s just a walk around the block. Create room for him to breathe and feel safe enough to reset.
Our Turn:
I told Percy, “That’s the Warrior mission. You don’t fix the trauma in that moment — you anchor the person long enough for them to step out of the chaos and start finding their way back.”
Percy exhaled slowly. “That’s the kind of leadership we need. Not medals. Not macho speeches. Just Warriors who RESPOND.”
Wrap Up
I handed Percy a copy of Mental Health Warrior’s RESPOND to Crisis. He held it for a moment, then squared his shoulders and tucked the book under his arm like a weapon he actually wanted to carry.
“Bruce,” he said, “I’ve got tactical manuals stacked in my garage. But this? This is the one I’ll keep in my jump bag. Because out there, the hardest battles aren’t blood or fire — they’re what happens after.”
And with that, Percy the Platypus — soldier, EMT, Warrior — strode back toward the sirens.
As for me? I smiled, knowing that if the RESPOND method could guide a platoon of platypuses through the fire of frontline trauma, it can guide anyone — friends, coworkers, neighbors — through the everyday crises that shake us all.
Because whether you’re teaching fractions like Marvin, riding an ambulance with Percy, or just showing up for a struggling friend — you don’t need perfection. You just need the courage to RESPOND!
Bruce Schutter
Every day is a chance to choose strength — because YOU'RE IN CHARGE!
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