Lately, I’ve been thinking about how expected it is for men, especially those in leadership, to put our heads down and keep going.
You focus on your work, your family, and your responsibilities. You do what needs to be done. And if something’s weighing on you mentally or emotionally, you tell yourself you’ll deal with it later. But later doesn’t always come.
For a lot of us, that mindset runs deep. We’re taught to be strong, steady, and self-sufficient. Somewhere along the way, we start believing that taking care of our mental health is something extra… something optional.
But it’s not. It’s foundational.
Not just for us as individuals, but for how we lead, how we parent, how we build.
Mental Health for Leaders: What Gets Overlooked
When I think about leadership—whether in business, family, or community—I think about how much time we spend serving others. Showing up. Performing. Providing.
In that outward focus, it’s easy to overlook our own internal state. We become so used to showing up for others that we stop checking in with ourselves. And because we’ve learned to operate in high gear, we don’t always recognize when something’s off—until it affects our work, our relationships, or our health. Leadership without self-awareness isn’t just exhausting. It’s unsustainable.
But when we lead from a place of burnout, stress, or unresolved emotions, it eventually shows up in how we:
- Communicate
- Make decisions
- Connect with the people we serve
Strong leadership isn’t just about being dependable; it’s about being present. And that kind of presence requires care.
The Ongoing Mental Health Stigma Among Men
Even as conversations around mental health become more common, stigma still lingers, especially for men.
Many of us were raised with a “push through it” mentality. And for men in leadership, there is often added pressure to remain “strong” no matter what.
But silence doesn’t make the weight lighter. It just makes it lonelier.
Prioritizing your mental health doesn’t make you a less effective leader. It makes you a more sustainable one.
What Mental Health Support Can Look Like
You don’t have to overhaul your life overnight. Supporting your mental well-being can begin with small steps.
Here are a few ways to check in with yourself:
- Pause before reacting. Take a breath. Notice how you’re feeling.
- Ask yourself honestly: How am I doing right now?
- Move your body. Go for a walk without your phone.
- Talk to someone you trust. A coach, a friend, a therapist.
- Get quiet. Journal. Reflect. Give your brain space to rest.
These small steps may not feel like much in the moment, but over time, they create a stronger foundation. Mental health is a practice. Just like physical training or skill-building, it gets better with consistency. And the more we normalize these habits, the more resilient and clear-headed we become in every area of life.
Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month Is a Reminder – Not a One-Time Message
Let this month be a prompt to keep the conversation going.
Leadership isn’t about holding it all in. It’s about setting the tone. When we show others that it’s okay to reflect, to ask for help, to take a step back, we give them permission to do the same.
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