Breaking the Silence: Mental Health, Addiction, and the Power of Asking “How Are You?”
- Feb 5
- 4 min read
Content disclaimer: This post discusses mental health, substance use, and suicide.
In this powerful episode from The Park Bench, we sit down with Christopher Bowers, CEO of Global Breakthrough Education, to unpack the realities of mental health, substance use, and the quiet struggles so many people carry.
With over 35 years in the field, Chris brings not only professional expertise but lived experience, making this discussion both deeply personal and profoundly practical.
What Does a Family Consultant Actually Do?
Chris describes his work as meeting families “in technical difficulty.” Through Global Breakthrough Education, he and his team support individuals and families facing:
Mental health challenges
Substance use disorders
Crisis situations
Post-treatment aftercare
Their work ranges from interventions and sober coaching to international travel support—even accompanying musicians on tour to provide recovery structure in high-risk environments.
At its core, the mission is simple:
Increase the odds that someone stays alive, stays sober, and stays supported.
Mental Health and Substance Use: Which Comes First?
One of the central themes of the episode is the blurred line between mental health and addiction.
Chris explains that often:
Mental health challenges lead someone to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol.
Or substance use begins first, and mental health disorders follow.
Both fall under mental health disorders. And both require careful, individualized care, never a cookie-cutter approach.
The Role of Coaches: A Missed Opportunity?
Because the podcast centers on arts and sports, the conversation dives into youth athletics.
Young athletes face enormous pressure:
Competing for scholarships
Maintaining starting positions
Comparing their bodies and performance to peers
Exposure to alcohol, drugs, and even steroids
Chris emphasizes that coaches hold a uniquely powerful role. Often, kids will listen to a coach before they listen to their parents. That makes coaches potential “angels in the doorway”, if they’re trained and willing to have real conversations.
Mental health, he argues, should be integrated into sports culture the same way physical training is.
Not just “Don’t do drugs.”
But: How are you? How are you really?
The Isolation Problem
Addiction and mental health struggles thrive in isolation.
Whether in sports, the arts, or business, people who appear successful can be suffering deeply. As one host shared, a family member who died by suicide was a surgeon with a psychiatrist spouse, “on the outside, everything looked perfect.”
Mental health does not discriminate.
Chris notes that delusion and denial are powerful forces in addiction. Many people truly believe they are fine, even when they are drowning. And just like a drowning swimmer can pull down an untrained rescuer, families trying to “fix it themselves” can unintentionally make things worse.
His advice is clear:
When in doubt, get professional guidance.
You don’t know what you don’t know.
The Stigma Around Not Drinking
The episode (LISTEN HERE) also explores how normalized alcohol is in our culture. Choosing not to drink can feel socially disruptive. Sometimes others react defensively—not because of you, but because your choice reflects theirs back to them.
Chris speaks openly about his own turning point at age 11, the first time alcohol made him feel “okay being me.” That moment became a powerful internal solution to deeper pain.
Which raises a critical question:
Are we teaching young people healthier tools before substances become their coping mechanism?
Trauma, Identity, and Feeling “Broken”
One of the most moving moments comes when Chris describes growing up feeling like a “dented can” on the grocery shelf, pushed aside.
He shares a ritual he created with his daughters: buying single bananas from the store and saying, “You matter.”
It’s a simple image, but a profound truth.
Many people grow up with an internal belief:
I’m broken.
I’m damaged.
I’m not enough.
Often, no one told them that. It simply became the story in their head.
Unaddressed trauma, big or small, can quietly shape behavior, addiction, and mental health struggles later in life.
Suicide: Talk About It
The conversation courageously tackles suicide.
Chris stresses:
Talking about suicide does not cause suicide.
Avoiding the word increases stigma.
Open, loving conversations create safety.
Suicide can devastate families, and sometimes repeat generationally if not addressed through education and support.
The takeaway:
Silence is not protection. Conversation is.
If You Notice Someone Struggling
So what can you actually do?
Chris offers practical guidance:
Educate yourself.
Seek professional input early.
Avoid enabling—but also avoid harsh, reactive “tough love.”
Keep asking. Keep showing up.
Create space for honesty without judgment.
There’s often a small window when someone is willing to accept help. Being informed and prepared can make all the difference.
Final Thought: Be Real
Near the end of the episode, Chris reflects on watching a child cry loudly in a store and thinking:
“When did we stop doing that?”
At some point, many of us learned to suppress our feelings. To appear strong. To stay on the horse rather than fall off.
But strength is not silence.
Strength is authenticity.
And sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is:
“You matter.”
If this conversation resonates with you, consider reaching out—to a professional, to a friend, or to someone you’ve been meaning to check in on.
Ask the question.
And be ready to listen.
Listen to this two-part full interview PART ONE and PART TWO, a must listen to anyone that has experienced mental health struggles in their family.
Find out more about Chris’s and his transformative services HERE
