It was a breezy Wednesday afternoon, and there I was, enjoying a stroll through the park when I spotted a familiar face. Well, not exactly a face—more like a round yellow belly and a red shirt stretched a little too tight. Yes, you guessed it: Winnie the Pooh was sitting under a tree, gazing thoughtfully into the distance. I waved, and he waved back, his usual warm smile spreading across his face.
"Hello, Bruce!" Pooh greeted me in his soft, gentle voice. "Hey, Pooh! How's it going?" I asked as I sat down next to him. Pooh scratched his head. “Oh, you know, the usual—looking for honey and thinking about things. Mostly honey.” He paused, his face suddenly becoming more serious. “But lately, I’ve been thinking about something else.” This piqued my curiosity. “What’s that, Pooh?”
He sighed. “Well, it seems that every time I chat with my friends, someone is always talking about their physical ailments. You know, Eeyore’s back problems, Rabbit’s allergies, Tigger’s springy tail sometimes gives him a cramp... But if I mention that I’ve been feeling down or anxious, suddenly the conversation goes quiet. It’s as if talking about mental health makes people uncomfortable.”
I nodded, completely understanding what he was saying. “Oh, I get it, Pooh. Happens to me all the time. If I talk about my bad back or a headache, everyone jumps in with advice. But the moment I mention my struggles with anxiety or PTSD, it's like I’ve said something that doesn’t belong in the conversation. And that’s a big problem.”
Pooh looked relieved that I understood. “Yes! Exactly! Why do you think that is?” "Well, it’s because, for some reason, people still don’t feel comfortable talking about mental health openly. But the truth is, we all have struggles. You, me, Eeyore, even Christopher Robin—everyone faces mental health challenges at some point in their lives. And the irony is, talking about them openly is the key to overcoming them."
Pooh’s ears perked up. “So, you think we should talk about them more?” “Absolutely, Pooh! In fact, I created the Mental Health Warrior Program to encourage exactly that. After battling Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders, and PTSD for over 20 years, I realized that openly discussing our mental health is one of the most powerful tools we have.
And matter of fact, talking about it openly is so important that in my book “53 Mindset Rules of a Mental Health Warrior”, I created Mindset Rule 3 – 'Talk About It,' to remind myself each day to openly discuss my mental health, allowing me to be in charge—not my challenges!"
Pooh seemed intrigued. “So, talking about mental health can help us?” “Oh, absolutely!” I nodded enthusiastically. “Let me explain how talking openly builds three key strengths for all of us. If we share these strengths with others, maybe they’ll start talking as openly about their mental health struggles as they do about their physical ailments.”
Strength 1: We’re Not Alone
“When we talk openly about mental health,” I began, “we start to realize that we are not alone. Everyone struggles with emotions because emotions are part of everything in life. You, me, Eeyore, Piglet—everyone has their ups and downs. When we share our struggles, we build strength by knowing we’re not the only ones going through tough times.”
Pooh nodded slowly. “So, when I feel worried or sad, I’m not the only one?”
“Exactly, Pooh! You’re definitely not the only one. And by talking about it, we build a sense of community. Together, we’re stronger because we know we have each other’s backs. You’d be surprised how much lighter the load feels when you’re not carrying it alone.”
Pooh’s face brightened. “That makes a lot of sense. I bet Eeyore would feel better if he knew we all understood how he felt.” “Exactly,” I said. “Just like you would feel better knowing that everyone else has their struggles too.”
Strength 2: Speaking Out Loud Makes Challenges Real
I continued, “The second strength we gain from talking openly about mental health is that when we say something out loud, it becomes real. And that’s a powerful position to be in because it motivates us to stop hiding from our challenges. Once we talk about them, we can start to take action.”
Pooh looked thoughtful. “So, by talking about our struggles, we make them real?”
“That’s right, Pooh. Think about it: if you keep your worries inside, they stay vague and shapeless, like a cloud you can’t grasp. But when you talk about them, suddenly they have form and shape, and you can actually do something about them.”
Pooh scratched his head. “You mean, like when I’m worried about running out of honey, and I tell Piglet, he always has a good idea for where we can find more?”
“Exactly!” I laughed. “It’s the same with mental health. Once we admit we’re struggling, we can start taking steps to feel better. No more pretending! We can face our challenges head-on like Mental Health Warriors.”
Strength 3: Shared Solutions Empower Everyone
“And finally,” I said, “the third strength we gain from talking openly is that we can share solutions. When we talk about what’s worked for us, others can try those solutions too. Shared information is powerful because, together, we can take action on it.”
Pooh nodded eagerly. “So, if I share what’s helped me feel better, it could help someone else too?”
“Exactly! For example, in the Mental Health Warrior Program, I’ve learned so many practical tools to manage my emotions and challenges. When I share those tools with others, they can use them too. And the more we share, the more empowered we all become.”
Pooh clapped his paws together. “That’s brilliant! I can share solutions with Piglet, Eeyore, and even Tigger. And if they share what works for them, we’ll all feel better!” “That’s the idea,” I said with a grin. “Together, we’re unstoppable.”
Heading Out Empowered
As our conversation wrapped up, Pooh and I sat there, basking in the simplicity and power of our discussion. “So, Pooh,” I said, “the next time you’re standing in line and someone talks about their back pain or allergies, maybe you can chime in with something about mental health.”
Pooh grinned. “I’ll tell Piglet too. I think it’s time we all start talking more openly about mental health. Who knows? It might just make the Hundred Acre Wood a little brighter.” I stood up, feeling lighter than I had in days. “Absolutely, Pooh. Remember, by sharing our struggles, we’re not just helping ourselves—we’re helping everyone.”
And who knows? The next time you're in line at the store, you might just hear someone talking about their mental health journey. When you do, don’t shy away—join in, talk about it and get empowered!
Bruce Schutter
Creator of Mental Health Warrior Program and Challenge Coin
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