Mental Health Leadership : Meeting People Where They Are

This past weekend, I had the privilege of participating in an event in my hometown that brought mental health awareness to the greatest of all Canadian institutions, the hockey rink.

https://cknewstoday.ca/chatham/news/2025/01/21/nearly-35k-raised-for-face-off-for-mental-health-at-chatham-maroons-game

The generosity and energy were inspiring, but what stood out most were the conversations I had with attendees.

Many shared a similar sentiment: they had no idea about the range of mental health resources available in their own community. This highlighted a vital truth to many of the community partners in attendance—when it comes to mental health, we can’t expect people to come to us. We need to meet them where they are.

For years, mental health advocacy has often been confined to clinical offices, formal awareness campaigns, or traditional outreach efforts. While those efforts are valuable, they often miss a critical element: being accessible in the spaces where people naturally gather.

Whether it’s a sports event, a workplace meeting, a school activity, or even a casual social gathering, we need to bring the conversation to everyday spaces. It’s in these moments—where people feel comfortable and connected—that we have the greatest opportunity to break down stigma and open the door to support.

Leadership in mental health isn’t just about policies or programs. It’s about visibility, accessibility, and creating environments where people feel empowered to seek help.

Here are three key takeaways for anyone striving to lead with mental health in mind:

Go Where the People Are: Leadership means stepping into spaces that are familiar and comfortable for others. Whether it’s an arena, a community event, or a coffee shop, meeting people in their environments makes mental health resourcing less intimidating and more approachable.

Show, Don’t Just Tell: It’s not enough to share information. Create opportunities for hands-on engagement with resources. Whether it’s a display of local support services or a workshop on resilience, people are more likely to connect when they can see and experience the help available. I ran a 'plinko' game for kids that had them answering questions about self-care/bullying/helping friends for a prize. The squishy pucks for a real hit.

Start the Conversation: Many people hesitate to seek help because they’re unsure how to begin. Leadership means being the one to start those conversations, showing vulnerability, and demonstrating that it’s okay to talk about mental health.

Mental health advocacy doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need to be intentional. Think about the spaces where your leadership has the most impact—your workplace, community, school, or even your family. How can you bring mental health advocacy into those spaces?

By meeting people where they are, we can make mental health support more visible, accessible, and normalized. Whether you’re coaching a team, managing a business, or leading a group, this approach can create ripples of change that foster resilience, connection, and understanding.

When we show up with empathy and intention, we’re not just supporting mental health—we’re shaping stronger, healthier communities.

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