42% of workers still fear that speaking up about their mental health could hurt their careers.

That’s not from 2002. That’s current.

Even as companies roll out mental health days of PTO, send EAP emails, and talk about resilience, host quarterly wellness workshops, nearly half of employees still feel unsafe being honest. They worry they’ll be judged, passed over, or quietly sidelined.

We say we “support” each other. But when it’s our own story, silence still feels safer.

📊 The numbers we shouldn't still be seeing are as follows:

According to the latest National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) poll:

- 77% say they’d support a coworker who was struggling.
- But only 58% would feel comfortable talking about their own struggles.
- And 42% still believe being open could hurt their career.

Here’s a helpful summary infographic if you want more information.

That’s the gap.
We encourage others and stay quiet ourselves.
Because deep down, we don’t fully trust that being honest is safe.

👀 What this looks like day to day

- An extroverted teammate goes quiet in meetings. No one checks in.
- A manager takes a few days off but seems reluctant to say why to her supervisor.
- A high performer starts slipping. People notice, but don’t ask.

We still treat therapy like a secret.
We still reward people who push through.
We still avoid naming burnout, anxiety, grief, or panic.

🧩 Why it matters

This isn’t just about how people feel. It’s about how they function.

When people stay quiet, they don’t get help.
When they don’t get help, they struggle longer.
And when they struggle longer, it affects everyone — the team, the work, the culture.

This is a workplace culture issue.
And the cost of silence and stigma keeps growing.

✅ What workplaces can actually do to help crush the stigma

If you lead a team, start here:

1. Leaders need to lead by example.
“Mental health matters here and here’s why” is a statement that needs to be spoken by all leaders. And not just talk to the talk, but back it up by observable action steps.

2. Make it safe to speak
Normalize mental health days. Protect people’s privacy. Don’t punish honesty.

3. Get trained and train your team about mental health topics
NAMI found that workers with training felt less fear about speaking up. The difference was real.

💬 What you can do right now

- If you're struggling, say something to someone. Even if it’s not your supervisor.
- If you’re leading, be authentic and speak openly about stress. Show people that real talk belongs in the room.
- If someone near you seems off, check in. Ask like you mean it. Listen without fixing.

We can’t heal in silence.
Everyone says they’re okay.
Nearly half aren’t.
Let’s change that.

Thank you all for coming along this journey. If this is your first time here, be sure to hit the subscribe button.

Until next Friday morning, come back…be here.

Keith