Many of us are navigating heavy emotional terrain right now. Mental health challenges are rising not just because of personal hardship, but because we’re living through a time of deep uncertainty, political instability, and growing authoritarianism. That kind of chronic stress—combined with grief, fear, and moral distress—doesn’t stay outside the workplace. It walks in with us every day.

That’s why it matters that we talk about it. By naming what’s real, we help remove the stigma. By offering acknowledgment instead of avoidance, we help our teams feel seen. And by showing up as human beings first, we remind others it’s safe to do the same.

This guide is a small tool—but I hope it helps you hold a big truth: that care, conversation, and connection are essential leadership practices for creating spaces of belonging.

Thanks for leading with heart.

In solidarity + gratitude,

mental health in the workplace

what it is

Each May, we observe Mental Health Awareness Month—a time to reflect, reconnect, and recommit to conversations about mental and emotional well-being. But mental health in the workplace is something that should be an on-going discussion. Since the start of COVID, we’ve been living through an unrelenting stretch of personal and collective trauma—global grief, disconnection, burnout, and a loss of safety in the places and systems we once counted on.

Now, with the rise of authoritarianism, the unraveling of democratic norms, and deepening uncertainty in our workplaces and world, mental health isn’t a side conversation—it’s the water we’re all swimming in. Talking about mental health in trauma-exposed, service-driven fields isn’t just about awareness. It’s about building a culture that acknowledges that we’re human and let’s us know that it is safe to let people when we’re struggling to hold the pain and trauma we work to alleviate in the world. Where care isn’t conditional. Where humanity isn’t something we check at the door, but something we lead with.

why it’s important

Mental health is inseparable from our physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational well-being. It’s the thread that runs through how we show up, connect, make decisions, and move through the world—especially in moments of crisis.

Right now, many of us are carrying invisible weight: grief for what’s been lost, fear about what’s ahead, exhaustion from constant adaptation, and moral injury from witnessing or being part of systems that are no longer aligned with our values. These realities don’t pause for work hours. And pretending they don’t exist only deepens the harm.

We can’t solve all of it—but we can start by talking about it. Making space for mental health isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s foundational to building a workplace where people feel seen, supported, and safe enough to be fully human.

sample talking points for leaders

The talking points below are a starting point. Feel free to use what resonates and leave the rest and rework them to make them your own.

🗣️ “Mental Health Awareness Month looks different this year—because the world looks different. Many of us have been carrying grief, burnout, and moral distress since COVID. Now, with everything happening around us—from authoritarianism to institutional collapse—mental health isn’t just an individual concern. It’s a collective condition we’re all living through.

🗣️ If you’re feeling more exhausted than usual, more anxious, less motivated, or emotionally numb—you’re not alone. These are natural responses to an ongoing, high-stakes period of instability. You’re not weak. You’re human.

🗣️ Mental health is not separate from your performance or your relationships—it’s the foundation underneath all of it. It shapes how you show up, connect, make decisions, and carry stress. And when our systems are in distress, it’s no surprise that so many of us are, too.

🗣️ Some of us are quietly grieving the loss of meaning in our work. Others are navigating moral injury—having had to carry out policies, uphold systems, or remain silent in moments that violated our personal values. These experiences leave real wounds. And they don’t heal in isolation.

🗣️ This isn’t just about coping—it’s about naming. We can’t address what we’re unwilling to speak. And we can’t build a culture of care unless we make space for honesty about how people are really doing.

🗣️ I want you to know: you don’t have to be ‘fine’ to belong here. We can hold space for both the work and the weight. Your mental and emotional well-being matter—not just as an employee, but as a person.

sample discussion prompts

Invite responses in a way that works best for your team—anonymously, in 1:1s, or in small group discussions depending on your team's readiness.

💬 What does mental well-being look like for you right now? Are there small things that would make a meaningful difference to your sense of balance and support at work?

💬 What are some workplace dynamics, expectations, or unspoken norms that impact your mental health—for better or for worse?

additional resources + information

• Seize the Awkward—resources for having conversations about mental health https://seizetheawkward.org/
• World Health Organization—2024 World Mental Health Report www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240049338
• Mind Share Partners—2023 Mental Health at Work Report www.mindsharepartners.org
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) www.nami.org