It was November 2020 when Brian Neuner climbed a ladder in his barn to patch a hole in the roof—just an ordinary task on an ordinary day. But when he fell and ended up in the emergency room, it became the first of many steps into a life-altering chapter.
A month later, in December, Neuner contracted COVID-19. What began as shortness of breath escalated quickly—he stopped breathing. Admitted to the hospital, he spent the next 41 days in total isolation. “It’s too long to be alone with your thoughts,” he says.
The virus left him physically depleted. Once a high-energy extrovert, Neuner was barely recognizable—even to himself. “I averaged 20 to 22 hours in bed,” he recalls. “I didn’t have the strength to do anything else.” A former television sports anchor used to public speaking and life in the spotlight, he found himself instead struggling to sit upright in a hospital bed.
The emotional toll hit harder. Diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression, Neuner battled to find his way back. One panic attack stands out in his memory: unable to breathe, chest tight, disoriented and terrified, he called out for his wife. She rushed to his side, told their daughters to call 9-1-1, and held his hands as paramedics arrived. “I genuinely thought I might be dying,” he says. “And it wasn’t the first time I’d felt that.”
Still, he clung to something deeper. “I kept thinking, it could have been worse,” he says. He leaned on his faith and family. Slowly, strength returned.
A turning point came during a call with a longtime friend, Mike Devine. “Mike said, ‘I think God’s trying to get your attention.’ I said, ‘Well, He has it.’ He replied, ‘Maybe not enough. God wants you even closer.’”
That conversation sparked change. Friends and mentors encouraged Neuner to share his story. Even his doctor said, “With your media background, you have a story to tell—and I hope you tell it.” Neuner replied he wasn’t a doctor or mental health expert. The doctor insisted, “That’s exactly why it has to be you.”
After long talks with his family, Neuner developed a 30-minute presentation. He reached out to ESPN’s John Anderson, a fellow Mizzou J-School alum and friend, who filmed a video introduction for Neuner to use in his talks.
Since then, Neuner has spoken to athletic departments at the University of Oklahoma and UNLV, the University of Missouri President’s leadership team, several HR conferences, MFA Oil, and more. His goal: normalize mental health conversations, reduce stigma, and connect people with help.
Neuner begins every presentation with Anderson’s video, followed by a question:
“When you feel overwhelmed—like there’s no way out—where do you find hope?”
The message resonates in packed rooms, but it’s the quiet moments afterward that stay with him. “You can help someone heal just by listening,” he says. “Sometimes people need to say something out loud just to feel alive again.”
After one event, a man in his early 30s pulled Neuner aside. “He said, ‘When you talked about how much your wife helped you, it hit me. My wife is suffering from severe postpartum depression, and I don’t know what to do. Could you tell me some of the things your wife said to you, so I could say them to her?’”
Neuner paused, then shared what he could.
It’s conversations like that—raw, honest, and human—that keep him going. “The scale of the mental health crisis can feel overwhelming,” he admits. “But every time someone opens up, I’m reminded why I do this. Telling my story is worth it.”
Learn more at MentalHealthHuddle.com.
Neuner begins each of his presentations with Anderson’s introduction video, followed by a question:
“When you feel overwhelmed—like there’s no way out—where do you find hope?”