For former Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux, a chance encounter changed his life for the better when a friend simply asked him about his mental health.
The friend had no idea Breaux was going through such a difficult time, but Breaux took it as a sign for help.
Breaux said it was one of the best decisions he ever made. He’s since seen a therapist, dealt with his mental health issues and been able to play in the NFL and Canadian Football League. Breaux, 34, said he’s in a much better place now.
Now retired, he’s sharing his story to help others like him.
But things hadn’t been good before: Breaux attempted suicide at age 9. He said growing up in a chaotic home with domestic violence had a negative impact on his mental health.
He suffered a serious neck injury in high school and then struggled with the early symptoms of psychosis and depression while in college.
Breaux recently visited the Broad Theatre with the New Orleans Early Psychosis Intervention Clinic to screen documentaries about mental health and host a resource fair. The “Every Mind Matters” roundtable is a documentary series that the clinic plans to release a new episode every month.
The Early Psychosis Intervention Clinic provides evaluation and treatment for patients ages 12 to 35 who have recently experienced psychosis. The clinic is affiliated with the Tulane University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. According to the center’s website, receiving treatment at a general mental health clinic is not the same as receiving specialized care.
“Three decades of research has shown that receiving specialized treatment as soon as possible during a first psychotic episode improves an individual’s overall outcome,” it says.
Black men talking about mental health
The first episode of “Every Mind Matters” featured Breaux and musician Walter (Kango Slim) Williams of the group Partners-N-Crime. The two New Orleans natives shared their experiences overcoming mental challenges, including mental illness, anxiety and depression.
“I think it’s big for black men to talk about mental health,” Breaux said. “We’re taught from a young age that we have to be strong all the time.”
The testing is part of the clinic’s mental illness awareness campaign, “Clear Answers for Mental Health in Louisiana,” which aims to educate all systems on the importance of early intervention. Mental illness affects three in 100 people, and people with mental illness often feel disconnected from reality. Symptoms can include things others cannot hear or see, paranoia, and delusional thinking.
Selena Choudhury, public health director for the Early Psychosis Intervention Clinic, said the series will consist of monthly discussions between people living with mental illness, advocates and experts. The next screening will be on Thursday, June 27, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at The Broad Theatre.
Following screening, each episode will be posted on the Clear Answers to Louisiana Mental Health YouTube page.
At a screening of the documentary at the Broad Theatre on May 17, Breaux and Williams watched with the audience and then held a short Q&A after the screening. Partner organizations, including Oceans Behavioral Health and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, provided lock bags to hold medications, information pamphlets, and more.
After the screening, Williams was asked if he would share his own story.
“It felt like I was sitting with a therapist,” he said. “It was really nice to talk one-on-one and feel a sense of release.”
Williams’ mental illness was triggered by the death of his son in 2022, he said.
Recovery is real
Mental illness can happen to anyone, but with help, it’s entirely possible to live a happy, fulfilling life, Chowdhury said. The “Every Mind Matters” roundtable series also features stories from the clinic’s patients.
“I want people to know that mental illness is real, but recovery is also real,” Choudhury said.
Branesha D. Mueller, an author and patient at the clinic, said she didn’t know what was going on when she started experiencing psychosis, but she knew something was wrong. She said she feels like her recovery is going well since attending the Early Psychosis Intervention Clinic.
“I don’t think some people realize that we can do anything they can, we just happen to have an extra bag,” said Muller, whose debut poetry collection, Authentic Vulnerability, reflects on her experiences with mental illness.
While the clinic offers a variety of resources to patients, more is needed, and in the future, the plan is to open a psychiatric clinic in south central Louisiana so that more specialized service providers can fill the gap and get more people the help they need.
“If we can get the public at large, and celebrities in particular, to talk about their experiences, it could help to destigmatise the subject of mental illness,” Chaudhry said.
Breaux said it was important for society to ensure future generations did not fall into the same traps as their predecessors.
“I’m tired of hearing, ‘They didn’t teach me that back in the day,'” Breaux said. “I don’t want to hear that! It’s time for a change.”
Following the testing, Breaux hosted a second Mental Health Boot Camp at Dillard University, where he partnered with the Center for Racial Justice to provide wellness workshops and fitness activities for athletes ages 10-21.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis or suicidal thoughts, please contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline on 988. You can also text “HELLO” to 741741. These resources are free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
