May is Mental Health Awareness Month. But let’s be honest—we need more than a month. We need a full-blown reckoning.

I’ve struggled with my own mental health over the years—ADHD, addiction, anxiety, depression—you name it. Some days I’ve barely held it together. Other days I’ve been on top of the world, only to crash hard and wonder what the hell is wrong with me.

I’ve lost friends to suicide. Good people. People who laughed loud and loved hard. People who hid their pain because the world doesn’t make it easy to be vulnerable—especially for those of us in high-stress careers, leadership roles, or any job where we’re supposed to “have it all together.”

Here’s the truth: we’re not OK. And pretending we are is making it worse.

We live in a world that glorifies the grind, celebrates toxic productivity, and treats vulnerability like weakness. We wear burnout like a badge of honor. We say “I’m fine” when we’re absolutely not.

And the craziest part? We think we’re the only ones struggling.

We’re not.

So this month—and every month after—I’m giving myself (and you) permission to drop the act. To be human. To say, “I’m not doing great right now,” without guilt or shame. And to support others who do the same.

Mental health isn’t a marketing campaign. It’s not a hashtag. It’s not something you “check off” once a year. It’s messy. It’s personal. And it’s life-or-death for too many people.

So what do we do?

• We talk. We listen. We stop judging.
• We normalize therapy.
• We check on our strong friends.
• We ditch the bullshit and start being honest.

Furthermore.

• If you’re struggling, you’re not weak.
• If you need help, ask.
• If you see someone hurting, say something.

Because silence kills—and pretending everything’s fine helps no one.

Let’s do better. For ourselves. For each other.

Throughout the course of this month, I’m going to commit to writing (at least) these 10 blogposts about mental health:

1. “Strong on the Outside, Dying on the Inside” – High-functioning depression and anxiety
2. “The ADHD Mind in a 24/7 World” – How neurodivergent brains are breaking under pressure
3. Addiction Isn’t Just Drugs and Booze” – Workaholism, tech addiction, and escapism
4. “Burnout Looks Different Than You Think” – Why burnout isn’t just about being tired
5. “Check on Your Strong Friends” – The people who never ask for help might need it the most
6. “Healing Isn’t Linear” – Relapses, setbacks, and being kind to yourself
7. “Real Help Looks Like…” – Tools that actually work (and ones that don’t)
8. “Masculinity and Mental Health” – Breaking the ‘tough guy’ stigma
9. “Leading With Vulnerability” – How to be a better leader without faking it
10. “Why We’re All So Damn Lonely” – Disconnection in a hyperconnected world

IMPORTANT NOTE: I am NOT a mental health professional, I am just a person who loves you and struggles through the curveballs life throws at me like you do. If you need/want professional help, here’s a place you can start.