We All Need a Little Lift: A Conversation About Mental Health

Prefer to listen? Here is the audio companion for this article.

When I lived in Minden, Nevada, just outside the Lake Tahoe area, gliders were a familiar sight. There was a big glider community there, and one of the things I always thought was interesting was how they got into the air.

A powered plane would tow the glider up to altitude. Once they reached the right point, the glider would release and continue flying, using rising air to stay up before eventually coming back down.

Here was an aircraft built to fly, but getting started often meant getting a lift from another plane.

I think there is something in that worth talking about when it comes to mental health.

We don’t have to handle everything ourselves

Growing up, I often felt like admitting you were struggling mentally was somehow a fault. Nobody really talked about it. You handled your responsibilities, kept moving, and figured out how to deal with whatever was going on.

At least, that was how I understood it.

The problem is that keeping something to yourself does not mean you are handling it. Sometimes it just means nobody knows you need help.

I’m finding that more people are willing to talk about their mental health now. People are letting others know they struggle, that they have asked for help, or that they are working through something. I think that is a good thing.

That does not mean those conversations are easy. If you grew up believing you should keep everything to yourself, picking up the phone and telling someone you are having a hard time can be a big step.

But needing help is not a character flaw. We all have things we carry, and there are times when we need somebody beside us to help us work through them.

Looking out for one another

In safety, we talk a lot about looking out for each other. We want someone to speak up when they see a hazard or step in when a coworker needs help.

I believe that same concern needs to include mental health.

We do not always know what someone is dealing with. A person can show up, do their job, and have a conversation with us while carrying something we know nothing about.

We do not need to assume something is wrong or push people to share personal information. But we can make time to ask how they are doing and actually listen to the answer.

If somebody tells you they are struggling, you do not have to have all the answers. You can listen. You can take them seriously. You can ask what would help and check back in with them.

Sometimes we are so quick to offer advice that we miss the opportunity to hear what someone is trying to tell us.

For those of us in leadership, that is worth remembering. How we respond when someone asks for help matters. If we dismiss them or make them feel like they are creating a problem, we make that next conversation harder.

Know what support is available and use it

There are companies out there that offer counseling, employee assistance programs, classes, and other mental health resources. If your company has those programs, take a little time to understand what is available, how to access it, and what the privacy protections and limits are.

You do not have to wait until things feel unmanageable to look into them.

As leaders, we should make sure people know those resources exist and have a practical way to use them. We also need to be willing to look at the workplace itself. Referring someone to a program does not take away our responsibility to address conditions at work that may be adding to their stress.

Outside of work, reach out to the people you trust. That might be a family member or a friend. It can start with something as simple as, “I’ve been struggling a little, and I need somebody to talk to.”

You do not need to have the whole conversation figured out before you start it.

Family and friends can be an important part of your support, but they do not have to be your only support. A qualified counselor or another mental health professional can help in ways the people closest to us may not be equipped to.

And if you do not have someone in your personal life you feel comfortable talking to, a healthcare provider or counseling service can be a starting point.

The important thing is knowing you do not have to figure everything out on your own.

That includes looking out for yourself

It can be easier to recognize that somebody else needs a break or a little support than to admit we need it ourselves.

We tell the people we care about to reach out. We tell them not to carry everything alone. We need to give ourselves permission to do the same thing.

When I think about those gliders in Minden, getting a lift was just part of the process. It did not take anything away from what the glider was built to do.

Now, mental health is not as simple as getting to altitude and releasing a towline. Some of us need help through a difficult stretch. Some need ongoing support. There is nothing wrong with either.

For me, the reminder is simple: look out for the people around you, and include yourself in that same care.

If you are struggling, let somebody you trust know. Take a look at the resources available to you. Give yourself the same consideration you would give a friend or family member.

We all need a little lift sometimes. There should be no shame in asking for one.