Reflecting on Chris Herren’s advice for kids and parents in his first podcast episode.

NEWSLETTER

Stories of Struggle, Triumph and Resilience

Those with lived experience share how their lives and those of their family members have been impacted by substance use and addiction.

🔊 Former NBA player Chris Herren was our first “Heart of the Matter” ([link removed] ) podcast guest who shared intimate details of his journey with addiction. As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, we are revisiting Chris' story to showcase how he uses his experience to change the way young people think about substance use and mental wellness.

Photo Credit: Chris Herren

Chris recognizes that recovery takes work every day. It also requires self-care and a supportive community:

“There were things that I needed to talk about, that were buried…I had to find the community to identify with…people that understood me, people that wouldn't judge me.”

He describes the ups and downs of recovery:

“[The state of my recovery] depends on how much work I'm doing, and how connected I am. And I'm fortunate to live in this, whether it's speaking to children, my foundation, or having wellness…I just have to be very aware not to get lost in others and continue to seek and find myself.”

His advice for young people: Through his current work as a motivational speaker and wellness advocate, Chris has spoken to over a million young people about substance use and wellness. In the podcast, we get a glimpse of some of these messages:

“I would say to kids, find the people in your life who are supportive, who are non-judgmental. Find someone in your school who you can trust and you can count on. And don't be afraid to be courageous, right? Do not be afraid to be courageous and speak up and talk about struggle.”

“…I tell people in my wellness center, I think everyone deserves a starting five. Everyone deserves to surround themselves with four other people in their life that's going to lift them when they can't lift themselves, that are going to show up when you're struggling to show up.”

His advice for parents: Check in on your kids’ mental health and wellness. If you find they are using substances, start with asking them “Why?” so you can have an honest conversation and be better prepared to help:

“You can bring them home after school and check their emails for homework, and [ask] what's their GPA, and how are they doing on their SATs. But parents don't look at their kids and say, ‘How's your self esteem? How are you feeling? What do you see when you look in the mirror?’ And those are the tough conversations that parents often shy away from.”

“So, I would continue to challenge and ask ‘Why?’ and have the tough conversations with them.”

“And that's the thing with me and my children, I'm fortunate. My son and my daughter, 22 and 19, they've never drank. My 12-year-old, if I catch him, we're going to talk about why. And I think that's the most important piece that's missing.”

Related Reading

For tips on protecting your loved one’s health and well-being, check out the Partnership’s Playbook for Parents of Teens ([link removed] )

Visit the Partnership's Mental Health Awareness ([link removed] ) webpage for resources like e-learning courses to expand parenting skills.

See chrisherren.com ([link removed] ) for more information about Chris and his work.

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