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Salmon Arm mental health advocate helps others to find their 㽶Ƶֱwhy㽶Ƶֱ

Justin Brien overcame difficult obstacles to 㽶Ƶֱgive back to a world he took so much from㽶Ƶֱ
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Justin Brien is a mental health advocate, coach and motivational speaker in Salmon Arm who has overcome personal obstacles in his journey to help others find their 㽶Ƶֱwhy.㽶Ƶֱ (Justin Brien/Instagram)

Warning: This story mentions alcohol abuse and suicide and may be upsetting to some readers.

A Salmon Arm man has taken it upon himself to help others find their 㽶Ƶֱwhy.㽶Ƶֱ

Justin Brien is a mental health advocate, inspirational speaker and life coach who is dedicated to helping people fight their inner battles and strengthen their mental fortitude.

Brien grew up in Salmon Arm, struggling with self-worth and confidence from a young age, saying he sought validation from other people and wasn㽶Ƶֱt happy with himself. Brien said he would act out, people pleasing and being the 㽶Ƶֱfunny man㽶Ƶֱ in social settings because he wanted to be anybody but himself.

After high school, Brien started drinking alcohol, which gave him insecurities but helped him feel real. When he moved to Victoria and got into playing junior hockey, his drinking intensified. As his hockey career continued into its third year, he sustained several concussions and was let go from the team to prioritize his health and safety.

㽶ƵֱThat㽶Ƶֱs the start of where I really started to struggle with mental health,㽶Ƶֱ said Brien. 㽶ƵֱLooking back, that㽶Ƶֱs when I should have gotten professional help, but I didn㽶Ƶֱt.㽶Ƶֱ

Brien then moved to Vancouver and became a bartender, entrenched in the party scene.

㽶ƵֱFrom there it took off. I did drugs for the first time at 24, and a buddy said to me, 㽶ƵֱYou were funny that night.㽶Ƶֱ That stuck with me, that was like my super power.㽶Ƶֱ

Four years later, Brien found himself back in Salmon Arm and met the woman who would have his first child, a son. Things were spiraling at that time, said Brien, and she ended up leaving him after six months as his drinking got worse and he started to have suicidal thoughts and occasional actions. He said he registered to be an organ donor during this time as he didn㽶Ƶֱt think he deserved to live any longer.

January 4, 2019 was a memorable day for Brien. It㽶Ƶֱs the day he realized he had to check himself into the hospital or his son would grow up without his biological father. He did, received treatment, and landed a job at Mr. Mike㽶Ƶֱs, moving from bartender roles into management over the last three years. Brien left the service industry in September 2022 to focus on his coaching career. He is now the company㽶Ƶֱs mental health liaison, helping employees at 12 Mr. Mike㽶Ƶֱs locations by hosting his programs and being available for one-on-one coaching.

Asked how he could work at a bar after being an alcoholic for so many years, Brien said he has a changed mindset.

㽶ƵֱI know where I was, I know where I am and I know where I㽶Ƶֱm going.㽶Ƶֱ

Brien now speaks to schools, volunteer organizations, businesses and sports teams, and holds support groups and retreats for different clientele.

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He said being able to give back to a world he took so much from is what inspires him.

㽶ƵֱPeople had to change their lives to cater to me, and now I get to help, inspire and encourage others to become stronger versions of themselves.㽶Ƶֱ

He has overcome new challenges. His young daughter, who was born with Down syndrome, needed heart and intestinal surgery and suffered from colitis in hospital. Despite hardships like this, Brien said he is able to remember his 㽶Ƶֱwhy.㽶Ƶֱ

㽶ƵֱThe importance of finding your 㽶Ƶֱwhy㽶Ƶֱ and making it your anchor is everything,㽶Ƶֱ he emphasized. 㽶ƵֱGrab hold of it and take it with you everywhere.㽶Ƶֱ

Brien㽶Ƶֱs book, Chasing Shadows: Fighting the Monster Within, will be available soon and information is available at justinbrien.com. Also on the website are details about the one-on-one Stronger You Project and the 10-week Awaken Warrior men㽶Ƶֱs program starting April 17.

Brien is one of the keynote speakers for the WorkBC Shuswap Inclusive Seminar & Job Fair, taking place Tuesday, April 18, at the Prestige Harbourfront Resort in Salmon Arm.

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rebecca.willson@saobserver.net

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Rebecca Willson

About the Author: Rebecca Willson

I took my first step into the journalism industry in November 2022 when I moved to Salmon Arm to work for the Observer and Eagle Valley News. I graduated with a journalism degree in December 2021 from MacEwan University in Edmonton.
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