Share Hope: How John Rambo Uses the Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin to Help Others
- Bruce Schutter
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Yesterday was one of those crisp downtown mornings when the coffee smelled stronger and the sidewalks buzzed with activity. As I strolled past the shops, lost in thought, I spotted a familiar figure slouched on a bench. John Rambo.
Yes — that Rambo. Muscles. Headband. A stare that could scare a storm into submission. Except today, he didn’t look tough-as-nails. His shoulders sagged. A quiet weight sat heavy on him, casting a shadow over his rugged features.
Rambo, like me, has faced his own mental health struggles. Over time, we’ve become sounding boards for each other — sharing Warrior tips and strategies to stay strong.
But today was different. Today, he looked deeply troubled.
“Rambo,” I said, sitting down beside him, “what’s going on?”
He sighed, staring down at his calloused hands.
“My friends are struggling — mentally, emotionally. And I want to help… but sometimes I don’t feel strong enough myself.”
Warrior Solutions
John Rambo and I go way back. He knows my story — two decades locked in battle with Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. Battles that left me feeling so powerless, I tried to end my life. But in my darkest moment, I discovered a truth that changed everything: mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
Armed with that knowledge, 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, overcome challenges, and build the life you really want.
One of the core tools of that program is the Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin — a tangible reminder of your Warrior strength that you can carry with you every day.
Not just a coin. A Warrior lifeline!
I reached into my pocket and pulled it out. One side gleamed with the Warrior emblem. The other read: “I Am Stronger Than My Challenges.”
“This,” I said, holding it up, “is my daily companion. I carry it everywhere. It reminds me of my strength — and gives me a way to pass that strength on to others.”
Rambo leaned forward. “How does it work?”
I smiled. “Let me show you three powerful ways to use it — Mental Health Warrior style.”
Tool 1: Your Strength Becomes Their Strength
“The first way this coin helps,” I began, “is by reminding me that I have to stay strong for myself — especially if I want to help others. When challenges try to take over the day — anxiety creeping in, self-doubt getting loud — I hold the coin in my hand.”
I closed my fingers around it.
“The weight reminds me I’ve faced hard things before… and I’ve triumphed. It’s a tangible reminder that I’m stronger than whatever I’m facing.”
I paused, letting it sink in.
“And that strength matters — because when I’m grounded, I’m in a better place to support others too.”
Rambo’s Takeaway:
Rambo nodded slowly, rubbing his chin.
“I get that,” he said. Then he let out a low chuckle. “There was a time deep in the jungle — pinned down with my unit. Morale was gone. Everyone was rattled. If I’d had something like this back then, something to anchor me, it would’ve steadied my mind and helped me focus on leading my men.”
He glanced at the coin again. “Sometimes you just need one thing to grab onto when everything else is chaos.”
“And not just for you,” I added. “When you’re strong, you’re in a better place to support the people who need you.”
Rambo nodded. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I can’t help my friends if I’m not strong myself.”
Tool 2: Reach-Out Reminder
“The second way I use the coin,” I continued, “is by keeping one on my desk. Every time I see it, it’s a simple but powerful reminder to check in with my friends.”
I leaned forward. “A quick text. A call. Even a simple ‘thinking of you.’ It doesn’t take much. In that moment, I’m passing along a clear message: you can triumph too.”
“And here’s the key,” I added. “When we reach out, we’re not just supporting others — we’re building our Warrior Tribe.
And a strong tribe means no one fights their battles alone. Individual strength becomes collective power.”
Rambo’s Takeaway:
Rambo’s face softened. “I like that,” he said. “Sometimes I get so locked into my own battles that I forget to check in on my squad. If I had something like this on my desk, it’d remind me to reach out — to let them know they’re not alone.”
He paused, eyes narrowing as memories surfaced.
“After one rough mission, one of my men went quiet. Pulled back. If I’d checked in sooner… maybe things would’ve gone differently. Sometimes that one call, that one word, is the difference between someone standing strong or slipping away.”
“Exactly,” I said. “It’s not just about us. It’s about building a community of Warriors who lift each other up.”
Tool 3: Share Strength & Support
“The third way this Warrior Coin helps,” I said, “is by becoming a symbol of support I can share.”
I held it up. “When I see someone struggling, I’ve been known to hand them my coin. It’s a simple way of saying, ‘I believe in you.’ That they have the strength to face what’s ahead.”
I paused. “When I started my own Warrior journey, others shared their strength with me — and it made all the difference. Passing the coin forward isn’t just a gesture. It’s how we grow the Warrior Tribe, one person at a time.”
Rambo’s Takeaway:
Rambo’s eyes narrowed in that intense way that probably made entire armies rethink their life choices.
“You’d just… give it to someone?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” I said. “Because sometimes the smallest gesture has the biggest impact. When they hold that coin, they know someone believes in them.”
He nodded, jaw tight with resolve. “I like that. A lot.”
“It reminds me of a time one of my men was ready to quit — too much weight on his shoulders. I handed him my knife and told him it was a piece of my strength until he found his own again. He made it through.”
Rambo glanced back at the coin. “Now I can give my buddy a Warrior Coin — not just to remind him he’s not alone in the fight, but to help ignite his own inner Warrior strength.”
Wrap Up
We sat in silence for a moment, both reflecting on the power of such a simple — yet profound — tool. Finally, John Rambo broke the silence.
“This coin,” he said, “it’s more than a reminder. It’s like carrying a piece of the Warrior spirit with you.”
“Exactly,” I said. “And when you pass it on, you’re sharing that spirit with someone else.”
I reached into my pocket and handed him my Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin.
“This one’s yours. Use it to stay strong. And when the time’s right — pass it on to someone who needs it.”
So the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed — or you notice someone else is — grab a Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin.
Carry it as proof of your strength. Share it as a spark of hope. And remember this Warrior truth: Together, we triumph!
Bruce Schutter
Every day is a chance to choose strength — because YOU'RE IN CHARGE!