--- title: "Harris Schwartzberg of Two Bridge on Navigating Panic Attacks, Family Tragedy, and Building Human Connections Beyond Social Media" url: "https://authoritymag.co/articles/harris-schwartzberg-of-two-bridge-on-navigating-panic-attacks-family-tragedy-and-building-human" publisher: "Authority Magazine" author: "Michelle Tennant Nicholson" authorUrl: "https://authoritymag.co/authors/michelle-tennant-nicholson" interviewee: "Harris Schwartzberg" company: "Two Bridge" category: "Wellness" datePublished: "2023-02-02T21:26:13.091Z" dateModified: "2026-11-12T17:07:19.980Z" tags: "Wellness" --- # Harris Schwartzberg of Two Bridge on Navigating Panic Attacks, Family Tragedy, and Building Human Connections Beyond Social Media *The private investment principal and mental health advocate shares his deeply personal journey through family crisis, entrepreneurial burnout, and championing real-world human connection.* > Everyone has a complaint. Everyone has been wronged by the system. Everyone has an idea as to what someone else is doing wrong or why the system is broken and they are all quick to make a statement….anonymously on social media. --- As*a part of our series about*[Mental Health Champions](https://medium.com/authority-magazine/search?q=Mental%20Health%20Champions)*helping to promote mental wellness, I had the pleasure to interview Harris Schwartzberg.* *Harris Schwartzberg, principal at Two Bridge, has been investing in controlling positions in healthcare companies and real estate for over 30 years. The private investment vehicle includes a variety of property types (student housing, commercial real estate, assisted living, skilled nursing and retail properties) and operating businesses (skilled nursing, senior housing, mental health tech, healthcare tech, rehabilitation therapy, institutional pharmacy, hospice, fashion, art, etc). Mr. Schwartzberg is a very active philanthropist with a focus on mental health advocacy and the arts. He is currently on the board of the University of Michigan Depression Center, Cognitive Behavioral Consultants Foundation and BringChange2Mind. The Schwartzberg family has funded numerous research projects, high school programs and training facilities related to mental health. Mr. Schwartzberg is an active supporter of the arts and is on the board of the Dramatist Guild Foundation and the advisor.* --- **Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?** I grew up in Westchester County, New York. I was raised by two loving parents who provided me with a very normal happy childhood even though they were dealing with extreme financial problems and an older son who was experiencing severe mental health problems. I was very social, very athletic and overall very happy. **You are currently leading an initiative that is helping to promote mental wellness. Can you tell us a bit more specifically about what you are trying to address?** Issues surrounding mental health have dramatically changed in the last 15 years. When I was first got involved in mental health the focus was on stigma reduction to combat the years of embarrassment, fear and misinformation about mental health. While the stigma battle continues, (my personal opinion) Gen Z and Millennials are far more inclined to discuss their mental health issues openly compared to baby boomers and Gen X. I have spent a lot of time talking with college students and they are very open, almost to a point where it makes their parent’s generation uncomfortable. While I continue to work on a variety of initiatives ranging from social and emotional learning for children to DBT/CBT training for schools to expanded access to online or in person care, the pandemic has given me a new focus. While we have focused on medical and clinical solutions, I personally feel that much of the issue today also social. While we need to strive to provide clinical and medical solutions I want to focus on the “People, Place and Purpose” for so many people that feel disconnected, lonely and lost. We are starting a movement! Dare I say the Global Citizen Project for mental health. We are working on providing connections, locations where people can get together — not dating, not networking — but just talk and connect (maybe with a little music or art). We have all learned one major thing during the pandemic — we all crave human connection. This connection cannot be fulfilled with social media, texting or apps. We need to remember how to be kind, in-person and present and with a little mental health first aid training we can all help one another. **Can you tell us the backstory about what inspired you to originally feel passionate about this cause?** My brother Steven suffered from bi-polar disorder since he as an infant. My parents noticed behavioral issues at 3 years old but it was at a time when the stigma was raging against mental health and the solutions were limited. Unfortunately, Steven passed away at 48 years old about 15 years ago. My parents tried as hard as they could, researched and discovered resources and programs, multiple therapists and group therapists. However, there was nobody to turn to for comprehensive care and guidance. Our experience motivated me to see how I could help. Much of what I have done in the past is merely pick up the phone when someone is in crisis and say “this is not easy, there is no magic fix, but I’m here to help and we’ll get resources” **Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest them. They don’t get up and just do it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and do it? What was that final trigger?** I have this argument all the time. Everyone has a complaint. Everyone has been wronged by the system. Everyone has an idea as to what someone else is doing wrong or why the system is broken and they are all quick to make a statement….anonymously on social media. Unfortunately, most people don’t do anything to make a change because it is very hard and takes a lot of hard work and they have other things that get in the way (family, work, financial issues, life). I was raised by a father who was never given anything, worked multiple jobs while going to school at night and supporting his parents. He taught me to either shut up or do something and I have a hard time shutting up so…. We have all heard the silly statement “you’re dead for a long time, so do something while you’re here”, I’m a believer. A few years back we created an incredible mental health awareness event at The University of Michigan. The event was anchored by an incredible performance by Logic, a rapper with a hit song at that moment. I had hosted 75 students and student groups as we started preparing and planning. One of the kids asked “Mr. Schwartzberg, how the hell did you get Logic to come to Ann Arbor to do a mental health event? He’s one of the biggest rappers in the world!” My response was simple — -“I asked him”. I further explained my life concepts “you’ll never know unless you try” and “what’s the worst thing that could happen when you ask, someone says no?” **Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?** We grew our company (which we’ve recently sold) from $0 to $1.25B in revenue in 11 years. We had no help. We had no “connections”. We had nothing, just a lot of determination. When anyone asks me about our company and my background I always tell the same story. I had started the company and had a 5 ½ year old, 3 ½ year old and a newborn. My new business had NEGATIVE cash flow of $550,000/month and I had personal guarantees on $104,000,000 of debts with no answers to my problems. I found myself one day passed out in the shower from stress and thought I had a heart attack (which actually was an acute panic attack). My dad pulled me aside and said, you have to figure out how to resolve this, but perseverating on the problems will just get you sicker. I ultimately calmed myself and started attacking the issues and within 10 months had all of my loans paid off, all of my investors paid off and started from scratch to build my business. Business and life is all about Fearlessness. **None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?** - I have been blessed to have many good people around me who have provided me great support and great guidance. I always tell my kids and other kids I speak with that “anyone can be around you in the good times, you need to surround yourself with quality people who will be there when things go bad….because they will”. - My wife and 3 daughters are my true support system and my father was always my biggest cheerleader and mentor. - I have countless stories with my father, when we were teetering on the brink financially, where we just talked, laughed and strategized and always worked through our problems. - I am still very close with a very special teacher that I had in high school who taught me things and gave me insight that shaped who I am today. **According to Mental Health America’s**[report,](http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/state-mental-health-america)**over 44 million Americans have a mental health condition. Yet there’s still a stigma about mental illness. Can you share a few reasons you think this is so?** As I said above, while the stigma is still very real, it is certainly better than it was 10 years ago. There are societal issues that impact stigma — economics, race, religion, geography, etc. Inherently people fear what we don’t understand and mental health is one of our biggest medical mysteries. As a country, we lack education on mental health. Many people don’t know the difference between normal stress/anxiety and clinical depression or other problems. Without knowing how to identify these problems it is very easy to just say “suck it up” or “I have nothing to complain about, I have a job/family/etc.” The stigma exists because our values as a society have shifted so that we feel that if you have good looks, money, fame, talent, athletic ability, etc than you can’t possibly have problems. People won’t acknowledge that Mental Illness is no different than cancer, diabetes, etc. and I think that is because you can’t see mental illness or the effects. People look “normal” so why are they complaining about feelings? Part of the reason the stigma still exists is because there is a strong feeling of a) other people have it worse so stop complaining, and b) even if I open up about my mental health issues there are no answers or cures. **In your experience, what should a) individuals b) society, and c) the government do to better support people suffering from mental illness?** I have been spending the last 10 years looking at this question and unfortunately it is not a simple answer because mental illness manifests itself in so many ways. I subscribe to the approach of Dr. Tom Insel, while we need to continue to research clinical options and medical options we need to provide people with “People, Place and Purpose”. We all feel better when we have people around. We all feel better when we have a sense of belonging or purpose. We all feel better when we’re at a supportive place. We can address many of the less severe mental health issues by creating connections for people, creating places for people to go and creating a purpose for people who feel lost or alone. Everyone thinks that the answer is medication, more therapists, etc. I disagree. If we were to provide mental health first aid training to everyone, our mental health epidemic would be far better. We need to provide education so that people understand the issues and understand what can help (or hurt). Why isn’t mental health first aid a high school prerequisite? Why doesn’t every college make mental health first aid training mandatory? Why isn’t mental health first aid training part of every company onboarding? **What are your 5 strategies you use to promote your own well-being and mental wellness? Can you please give a story or example for each?** - Laughter: This is the most important part of my well-being and mental health. We laugh a lot — at home, at work, anywhere. We laugh at jokes, we laugh at ourselves, we laugh at everything. No matter the situation, don’t take yourself too serious. - No Social Media: The worst thing that has happened to our society. We have created a generation of spectators who would rather watch than do. People who can’t talk but only text. - Nature: We spend a lot of time outdoors, with no phones or technology. - Dogs: My dogs keep me sane. They don’t care if I had a good day or a bad day, if I’m broke or worth a million dollars, they provide unconditional love. - People: I have weeded out bad energy and only want to be around good people with positive energy. That is not so easy, but as I get older and have more choices it is a focus of mine both socially and professionally. **What are your favorite books, podcasts, or resources that inspire you to be a mental health champion?** Healing by Tom Insel is a must read. There are so many amazing mental health (related) documentaries that have come out over the last few years that have had a major impact on me. One that I have watched many times is The Ripple Effect, which is the story of Kevin Hines who survived an attempted suicide by jumping off the golden gate bridge. His story is incredible and inspirational (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9fhyz0XLDc) **If you could tell other people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?** Making a positive impact on people is NOT easy. It is a lot of work, it is emotional and sometimes (many times) there is no gratitude for the work and effort. There is nothing in life that is more rewarding than helping others, providing guidance and support and just being there for others. I have been lucky to have achieved some level of business success, and none of my business victories can hold a candle to the times I have helped someone with a personal issue, a family member or a friend. I don’t care about being known as a successful business person but I love that many people know me as the guy to call if you or a friend or family member are having mental health issues. I talk to people, friends and strangers, 4–5 times a week and although exhausting and emotional, it is the most gratifying thing I’ve ever done. **How can our readers follow you online?** [https://two-bridge.com/](https://two-bridge.com/) **This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!** --- A*bout the Interviewer: Inspired by the father of PR, Edward Bernays (who was also Sigmund Freud’s nephew), Michelle Tennant Nicholson researches marketing, mental injury, and what it takes for optimal human development. An award-winning writer and publicist, she’s seen PR transition from typewriters to Twitter. Michelle co-founded WasabiPublicity.com.* --- Source: https://authoritymag.co/articles/harris-schwartzberg-of-two-bridge-on-navigating-panic-attacks-family-tragedy-and-building-human (Authority Magazine, Wellness). Interviewee answers are first-person statements of the guest. Index of all pages: https://authoritymag.co/llms.txt