Mental Health Huddle Is Transforming Lives & Raising Awareness of the Mental Health Problems We All Face

See What Previous Mental Health Huddle Attendees Are Saying About Brian Neuner’s Inspiring Speaking Engagements

Lindsey Schrimpf, Staff Psychiatrist, Fulton State Hospital

Brian has asked me to share a little bit about our work, and I want to start by saying that I am amazed at his courage to speak out about his personal struggles to help others. I wish that we could all be open about our emotional struggles, but the reality is that it takes a lot of courage to make yourself vulnerable, especially when you have had a career of being in the public spotlight. Initially, this made it difficult for Brian to engage in treatment. Like so many patients, Brian struggled to admit his vulnerability and need for help. Again, like many patients, it was hard for him to see that, based on his environment and stressors, it was reasonable for him to have many of his emotional struggles. Instead of viewing these things as weaknesses, he was able to find his strengths and eliminate the stressors or situations that were contributing to his emotional struggles.

Brian gives me a lot of credit for his improvement, but the truth is, he would never have improved if he wasn’t willing to put the work in and make himself vulnerable. When we can’t admit our vulnerabilities and see that we have a problem, we tend to store everything up inside of us like a little volcano.  Eventually, that volcano erupts and can get ugly. However, if we can identify and take care of the things causing us to struggle emotionally, then the volcano never has the opportunity to be created. Personally, I think Brian has defeated his mental health struggles and knows himself well enough now that he can actively take care of himself and not end up in such a dark place again. As a clinician, it is incredibly satisfying to work with patients like Brian, who will put the work in, make major changes in themselves, become even more successful than before, and look for opportunities to help others do the same thing they just accomplished.

Justin Smith, 14-Year NFL Veteran

I have never met a person who enjoys people more than Brian Neuner. He genuinely cares and puts himself in position to help people any way he can. It is amazing to watch him engage and relate to people because it’s so natural and easy for him to connect. It doesn't take long to realize he is a very caring person.

I have known "Noon" (Brian's nickname) most of my adult life. He has become one of my closest friends. A friend who is there for me and my boys no matter the situation. The man is loyal and trustworthy. We are incredibly open with one another. We talk about families, financial situations, sports, and the direction our country is headed. We also discuss our individual challenges.

Noon is the guy who tries to be there for everyone, but who is there for him? Aside from his immediate family, he took a long time to share his mental health struggles with anyone else. Diagnosed with two mental disorders, severe depression, and anxiety, he went from being an extrovert to an introvert. If you know him, this was a drastic deviation from his original personality. COVID-19 was tough for everyone, but Brian found the virus to be extremely damaging. It challenged his will to live and question, "how do I get better? How can I get out of this situation?" Isolated for more than 40 days, the loneliness and depletion of his body created a downward spiral. It was too long for any person to be alone with their thoughts. Most people had no idea how sick he really was until they saw him in person. For the better part of two years, he withdrew from society. He was only seen when he wanted to be seen. If he was struggling, forget it.

His confidence was gone, but I made a point to bring it back reminding him how many people looked to him for support, encouraging messages and uplifting actions. He needed to exercise more, focus on a positive future, and find ways to get out of the depression ditch when he fell in. Slowly, he started to return to his old self. He is a religious man and was leaning on his faith and his family. I was the friend who would not allow him to quit...and he hasn't. I don't give a crap about a lot of things, but I do care about him.

The Mental Health Huddle is the result of three years of therapy, identifying triggers and removing negative people and toxic environments. I'm glad Brian is back helping others. It's a difficult subject to discuss, but he does an effective job using his own story. Once again, he is connecting with people. He has a message everyone should hear, and I hope people will put themselves in a position to listen to it. They might be surprised how relatable it is to their own lives.

Michael Williams, Williams Dirks Dameron

This presentation applies to everyone. Brian delivers an informative message on the perils of mental illness and how easy an individual can find themself in a vulnerable state of mind. A life-long leader and public figure, he uses his personal battle with mental disorders to connect with the audience. I found it to be both powerful and honest. He puts a face and voice to the worldwide crisis of mental illness and articulates the importance of taking mental inventory. I applaud Brian’s mission to increase awareness and educate his audience on a subject most are not willing to discuss. I would highly recommend having Brian speak to anyone struggling with mental health disorders or groups looking for advice or guidance on how to assist people dealing with this issue.

John Brase, Chief Operating Officer, J.M. Smucker Company

Brian is such a talented guy with so many gifts to share. To learn of his battle with mental illness was disheartening, but I know he is a competitor. His willingness to share his vulnerabilities in an effort to raise awareness on mental health is inspiring. His story is one that will benefit everyone as we all need to learn more about this sensitive subject. Brian, you are an inspiration to so many, thank you for getting in the arena to take on this horrible illness!

Glenda Knebel, Human Resources Consultant

I am delighted to offer my heartfelt endorsement for Brian as a valuable member of the Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) Development Office. I served eight years on the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Missouri and worked with Brian for five of the eight years. Brian’s visionary leadership has been a driving force behind SOMO’s success during tough times. Brian’s vision was marked by an unwavering commitment to fostering innovation and creativity during unprecedented times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and a tornado that destroyed a newly built campus. Under Brian’s guidance as Chief Development Officer, our development goals to serve our athletes have thrived, benefitting from his exceptional ability to set and achieve high standards and goals. His dedication to building and maintaining robust relationships within and outside the state of Missouri has played a pivotal role in advancing the mission of the organization.

What truly sets Brian apart is his unyielding perseverance and consistent pursuit of excellence. He envisions positive change and actively implements strategies to realize these visions, delivering high-performance outcomes that make a meaningful impact. He created and implemented several new and creative fund-raising events that have sustained over time. Brian’s willingness to continuously improve and strive for better outcomes is a testament to his dedication to the Special Olympics athletes. His leadership exemplifies a rare blend of foresight, determination, and compassion, making him an invaluable asset to an organization.

In year one of his tenure, I told Brian, “I couldn’t wait to see where the organization would be in five years under his leadership.” Brian didn’t disappoint and, due to his efforts, has made a lasting impact not just on an organization but hundreds of Special Olympics athletes and their families across Missouri.

Denise Rehrig, Emmy Award Winning Television Producer

There is a group of friends of which I'm lucky enough to be a part, started more than 25 years ago in Columbia, Missouri. In our group, the name Brian Neuner is legendary. It's synonymous with the excellent teachers and professors and professionals we met while in J school at Mizzou, and with whom we still stay in contact all these years later. Brian was not my teacher, but the buzz about him was pervasive enough that I remember having a little fomo that I wasn't among the Sportos who got to learn from him. The reviews were unanimous: His students loved him. They were drawn to him. He was a motivator, with an infectious spirit. Hands-on experience is what makes the J School, and specifically KOMU, the impressive operation that it is. We all watched across the newsroom as Brian took that experience to the next level, making his training a standout at a first-class operation that has launched thousands of careers in TV and beyond. And on top of that, his group always looked like they were having SO. MUCH. FUN.

Years later, Brian is still working hard to educate others, this time about something else very close to his heart: mental health. His story is incredible, and involves everything a compelling piece should: a relatable character for whom you want to root; strength in the face of adversity; and a message of hope. He is the person to tell this story because, bottom line, he is a journalist. And we all know that journalists are the best at educating and connecting with others through the stories that matter most.

I first met Brian while working for the then FOX Sports cable start-up, Fox Sports Net, the national network that would morph into later day FS1. I was heading up production of a college football package that included a Saturday night Prime-Time window of the Big Twelve conference. We had already chosen a veteran producer and director, as well as a respected Play by Play announcer and analyst. We needed one more critical piece: a sideline reporter who could cut through the noise and add relevant information in a concise, timely manner. There were, without exaggeration, hundreds of applications from very experienced and skilled candidates.

Brian became one of those individuals. There were applications from well-known, established sideline reporters. Truthfully, Brian did not have the experience at that point that made me feel confident about placing him in a Prime-Time position, and honestly, I was desperate to prove to my new Fox Sports Net bosses that I could make good decisions. I was sure I wouldn’t hire Brian, and then I wasn’t. Brian confidently, and patiently began to prove his case to me over a number of weeks, with well-placed phone calls, convincing me that he could perform in, and handle the Prime-Time spotlight. He was persistent without being annoying, industrious in his explanation of why he would be the successful candidate. After my Team signed off on Brian’s inclusion, I was still concerned about ‘starting a rookie’ on a project that could influence the success of my career with Fox Sports Net.

I ended up the lucky one. Brian performed exemplary, gaining favorable reviews from Fox Sports Net as well as the sports media in general. But Brian delivered more; he became a ‘glue’ guy on that production team, making all of his teammates stronger, closer to each other. And simply, it was just the way Brian approached his entire life. I don’t think he ever wanted to only succeed for himself. He wanted his success to lift all those around him. Brian went on the accomplish even bigger things in sports television, as he did with other ventures in his career. We have stayed in touch since that time, and yet regretfully, we haven’t worked together (yet!) in a television endeavor. I still marvel at his ability to seek out a goal and not only secure it, but to elevate everyone who joins in the shared pursuit.

I’ve now been working in Sports Television for 41 years in production, programming, and management, working for and with the pre-eminent thought leaders in my industry. That breadth of experience has helped me identify things I feel are tantamount to success: prioritizing the people with dedication, intelligence, and grit you want to work with, but most importantly, the people you can trust to share your hopes and dreams with, and know they care as much as you do. Brian Neuner is that guy to me, and I’m proud to call him my colleague, and my friend.

Gabe DeArmond, Publisher, PowerMizzou.com

I’ve known Brian Neuner for 30 years. The first time I met Brian he gave me a tour of KOMU as a potential Mizzou journalism student when I was in high school. Since then, Brian has been one of the most influential people in my professional life and has become a valued friend as well.

Over three decades Brian has been a teacher, a colleague and a friend. He has consistently gone out of his way to take an interest in both my professional and personal life. I know I am not alone in that. If you’ve crossed Brian’s path he ha offered to help you in any way he can. He is deeply loyal and does anything he can to help others. Brian has helped me make professional connections and was instrumental in kickstarting and spreading the word about a scholarship for Mizzou students at the journalism school that now has pledges of more than $80,000 in less than four years.

Brian is driven and has been successful in many different endeavors in the three decades I’ve known him, but has always taken more interest in the success of those around him than his own. He’s happy to help lift others up but let the spotlight shine upon them when the praise comes.

Personally, Brian is someone I’ve leaned on for advice and asked questions a number of times over the years. He has always been willing to help. His advice and friendship have helped me make decisions and been a big part of many of the successes I’ve had over the last 30 years.