Brandon Williams could easily not be here. The 2008 Lehighton Area High School graduate battled mental health struggles, alcohol and drug use, and a near-fatal suicide attempt all before receiving that diploma.

But his story did not end there.

Williams is now a husband, a father and the clinical director at a Schuylkill County addiction treatment center and on Friday, Panther Valley High School students had a chance to hear about his redemption firsthand.

Williams began his talk by reflecting on his upbringing in Lehighton, where he described his childhood as relatively normal. Yet, even in a stable home, Williams acknowledged there were unhealthy dynamics, such as a tendency to avoid discussing problems openly.

“We didn’t really talk about things,” he said. “We just brushed things under the rug and moved forward. But that doesn’t solve problems. If anything, it makes them worse.”

Sports became Williams’ outlet during his formative years. He excelled in basketball and football, he said, finding a sense of belonging and confidence on the field and court.

However, as he entered middle school, his peer group began to change. Williams gravitated toward students who engaged in risky behaviors, including smoking and experimenting with substances. Though he initially resisted, the seeds of future challenges were planted.

“Hitting a three-pointer or throwing a touchdown gave me a natural high,” he said. “It was my escape and what boosted my self-esteem. But as I got older, I started hanging around kids I probably shouldn’t have. At the time, I thought it was just fun, but it opened the door to a lot of bad decisions.”

By his freshman year of high school, Williams was battling depression. He entered his first serious relationship, only to experience heartbreak that led to his first suicide attempt. He recalled that night vividly, explaining how he took a large number of aspirin. Though he survived, he told his parents it was an accidental overdose related to a sports injury rather than confessing the depths of his depression.

“I didn’t want to admit what I was really going through,” Williams said. “I was ashamed and thought I had to handle it on my own. But pushing those feelings down only made things worse.”

His struggles escalated during his sophomore year when he started using drugs and alcohol. Despite his athletic talent, the substance use and mental health challenges began to take a toll.

Williams shared that he felt a constant inner conflict between his potential and the choices he was making.

“I was a chameleon,” he said. “I could hang out with anyone — the athletes, the kids who used drugs, the straight-A students. But inside, I was insecure and depressed.”

His senior year brought a mix of highs and lows. On the field, he broke records as a quarterback and led his team to a district playoff appearance. Off the field, he was struggling with worsening depression, relationship issues, and substance use. The culmination came on March 1, 2008, when Williams attempted to take his own life. He described how he retrieved the shotgun and a shell he saved from a previous suicide attempt and prepared to end his life. The weapon discharged, leaving him severely injured.

“I remember the sound; it was like an explosion,” Williams said. “At first, I felt relieved, thinking it was over. But then my body kicked into survival mode, and I was fighting to breathe.”

His parents, who were home at the time, found him bleeding profusely. “My dad thought I had knocked over a lamp,” Williams said. “But when he came downstairs, he saw me. My mom called for help, and I’m alive today because everything happened so quickly. The ambulance, the doctors, the timing — it all aligned to save me.”

The attempt left him with permanent injuries, including the loss of use of his right arm.

“These were the consequences of my decisions,” he said. “I had to play the cards I dealt myself.”

Though he initially returned to substance use after his hospitalization, Williams eventually reached a turning point in 2010. He was at a friend’s house using drugs and alcohol when he got into an argument and left. He walked to a bridge near Lehighton, contemplating jumping off.

“I thought about it for a long time,” Williams said. “But something inside me said, ‘What if you survive again? What if you’re left in an even worse state?’ So I turned around and walked into the woods, thinking I’d just disappear.”

Eventually, Williams’ sister and her husband found him after a frantic search.

“When they pulled up, I just broke down,” he said. “I emptied my pockets, handed over everything, and said, ‘I need to go to the hospital.’”

At the hospital, Williams was assessed and referred to a treatment center. It was his first experience with residential care for both mental health and substance use issues, and it marked the beginning of his recovery journey.

“Going to treatment was the best decision I ever made,” he said. “I learned that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of strength.”

From there, Williams committed to rebuilding his life. He enrolled at Lehigh Carbon Community College, where he excelled academically, earning a scholarship to Bucknell University.

After completing his bachelor’s degree in psychology, he pursued a master’s degree at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in Minnesota, a renowned institution for addiction studies.

Williams’ professional journey began in 2016 when he became a drug and alcohol counselor at the Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission. He later advanced to clinical director at Silver Pines Treatment Center, where he continues to help individuals struggling with addiction and mental health issues.

“I’m able to use my experiences to connect with others and show them that change is possible,” he said.

In addition to his professional achievements, Williams spoke about his personal life. He married his wife, Kara, in 2019 and became a stepfather to her three sons. The couple also has a daughter, now 5 years old.

“My daughter wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t survived,” he said. “That’s a miracle I think about every day.”

Williams’ message to the students was clear: seek help, talk about your struggles, and know that change is possible. He emphasized the importance of utilizing resources, whether through school programs, counselors, or trusted adults, and encouraged students to view asking for help as a sign of strength, not weakness.

“Life is tough, but you don’t have to go through it alone,” he said. “Sharing your struggles takes away their power. There’s hope, and things will get better.”