10 Mental Health Thought Leaders Who ACTUALLY Know What to Say!
Earlier, mental health used to be a trendy buzzword that people threw around just because they thought it was cool. Today, emerging from that niche, mental health has evolved into a full-blown movement.
Going from an afterthought, a taboo, and a personal problem, whispered behind closed doors. Mental health has become the heart of how we present ourselves in leadership, life, and the workplace.
Companies have started taking psychological safety seriously, and individuals have begun to prioritise inner well-being over constant outward hustle. LinkedIn has become an unexpected but powerful place for this transformation.
Every scroll we do has the potential for healing, learning, or simply feeling less alone.
Here are 10 mental health thought leaders on this platform who are changing the way we think, talk, and care about mental health.
Arianna Huffington
Arianna Huffington is the founder and CEO of Thrive Global , making her one of the most influential voices in the global well-being movement. After experiencing burnout firsthand, she pivoted from media mogul to wellness pioneer, speaking out for the vitality of sleep, recovery, and intentional living.
Focusing on redefining success, her work asks us to look away from the relentless hustle. Instead, it must be a balance of personal and personal sustainability.
On LinkedIn, her posts put together research, storytelling, and practical tips for building workplace resilience. She speaks especially to leaders and high achievers who want to shift from burnout to breakthrough.
Morra Aarons-Mele
Morra Aarons-Mele has completely redefined mental health conversations with actionable advice for tuning into your wellbeing, channelling anxiety, and practising compassion.
A communications executive, she tells us why understanding and accepting the ups and downs of mental health can make you a strong leader. As she digs into the relationship between anxiety and success on The Anxious Achiever, she tells us that we must be comfortable with being uncomfortable and how disruptive change can help us in believing in ourselves.
She says we can lead with authority and impact even when we feel anxious. However, taking our mental health seriously and treating it like a vital piece of our career development is one of the best investments we could make
Natasha Bowman
Natasha Bowman, JD, SPHR ’s content is insightfully unique. According to her, creating a supportive environment around mental health in the workplace starts with open and honest communication between employees and their managers.
According to her journey with bipolar disorder and depression, she tells us why employees don’t want to talk about mental health and ways to promote wellbeing in the workplace.
She shares how to negotiate your mental wellness before taking a job and breaks down why authenticity is critical when it comes to the future of work.
Ruth Pearce
Ruth Pearce JD, MSc, PCC, PMP is the founder of ALLE LLC & Pearce Insights® and a certified coach specialising in positive psychology. She is a mental health advocate who examines well-being in project management and leadership contexts.
Her work emphasises building strength-based teams, promoting psychological safety, and helping professionals cultivate resilience from within.
Her LinkedIn content blends science, coaching insights, and real-world leadership experience - making it both deeply human and actionable.
She frequently shares practical tips for emotional intelligence, team motivation, and mindful management. If you are one of those who think that mental health and performance go hand in hand, she is someone you must follow.
Adam Grant
Meet Wharton professor Adam Grant , organisational psychologist, and the author of Give and Take, Think Again, and Hidden Potential, known as one of the world’s most influential management thinkers, and the host of the ever-popular WorkLife with Adam Grant Podcast. His work extends beyond the realm of mental health into the realm of self-care. When Adam Grant talks, people sit down and listen.
Great businesses are not just built on products - they’re built on people. Grant dives into workplace culture, motivation, and leadership. Rich in research, insights help business owners and teams totally rethink the way they work, making his content extremely engaging and immensely useful.
Managers, entrepreneurs, or anyone who wants to improve workplace dynamics will find their content to be a valuable resource.
Barbara Vercruysse
Barbara Vercruysse happens to be the founder of BV Empowerment and Kindness Institute, and a globally recognised advocate for “powerful kindness” in leadership and mental health.
She is also a stage-4 cancer survivor and former business leader, combining resilience with compassion, mentoring people and organisations to balance empathy with excellence.
If you visit her LinkedIn page and institute page, you'll find it full of uplifting, practical insights on workplace culture, emotional intelligence, and mindful leadership, reminding us that kindness is both transformative and strategic.
If you are someone who wants depth and impact, following her feed is a daily invitation to lead with heart.
Vidusha Nathavitharana
The founder and “Destiny Architect” of Luminary Learning Solutions , Vidusha Nathavitharana is not only a leadership strategist but also a vocal advocate for mental health in the workplace.
Through his workshops and writing, he looks into burnout, emotional intelligence and psychological safety as one of the core pillars of effective leadership.
In his approach, we see evidence-based strategy with deep human empathy, making mental health a strategic priority instead of an afterthought.
He is a TEDx speaker and a Top 30 Global Gurus Leadership Professional, providing us with grounded, culturally relevant insights that resonate with leaders navigating stress, uncertainty, and the human side of success.
Dr. Arayeh Norouzi
Dr. Arayeh Norouzi is the founder of Thinkers360 and a Ph.D. psychologist specialising in mindfulness-based transformational techniques for individuals, couples, and families.
Based in California, Dr. Norouzi combines positive psychology, neuroscience, and spiritual wisdom, helping people channel anger, anxiety, and overwhelming trauma into daily joy and resilience.
Her bestseller, “The Art of Living in Joy”, empowers clients with tangible tools - from micro-break breathing to emotional rewiring, for building healthier relationships and work cultures.
She has been endorsed by Dr. Shefali Tsabary , and offers corporate mindfulness training shown to boost well-being, reduce stress, and boost performance. If you want deeply grounded, science-meets-spirits insights on thriving mindfulness, follow her.
Dr. KateTruitt
Dr. Kate Truitt is a clinical psychologist and neuroscientist, and the founder of Dr. Kate Truitt & Associates , a practice that aims to integrate brain science and compassionate care into trauma recovery and mental wellness.
She is the creator of the Truitt Institute and the HEART model for emotional regulation, helping people and companies heal from trauma, build resilience, and lead with emotional intelligence.
Her work stresses the power of neuroplasticity and self-directed healing, making mental health both accessible and actionable.
On LinkedIn, she shares science-backed strategies for managing anxiety, rewiring self-worth, and fostering psychological safety at work. She is a must-follow for leaders, therapists, and anyone who wants to know more about trauma-informed growth.
Cynthia Lockrey
She is the founder of Lockrey Communications and is a veteran communications expert and a keynote speaker who radiates empathy and clarity in every message.
Cynthia Lockrey has more than 25 years in public relations, and empowers individuals and teams to communicate confidently, set personal boundaries, and share authentic stories - skills that are required for emotional well-being.
Her approach is steeped in kindness and transparency, especially when it comes to guiding leaders through burnout, empathetic advocacy, and crisis resilience.
On LinkedIn , she shares practical strategies for mental health like saying no, reclaiming energy, and using storytelling for connection. For leaders who want to speak and listen with impact, she is a must-follow.
Conclusion
Today, mental health goes beyond being a hushed conversation or a tick-box initiative - it is a living, evolving dialogue that is happening real-time on platforms like LinkedIn.
The thought leaders featured here are not just voices in the void, but also mentors, role models, and changemakers who use their personal journeys, research, and professional wisdom to change how we think about well-being at work and in life.
Whether you are a CEO, leading a team, a solopreneur fighting burnout, or a professional trying to navigate daily stress, your mental health matters.
Such leaders tell us that growth and kindness can co-exist. Vulnerability is strength, and a healthy mind is not a luxury; today, it is an absolute necessity. A foundation of sorts.
Mental wellbeing for high performance | Public speaker, coach, and leadership trainer | Host/Author of The Anxious Achiever | Researcher | Expert in shifting narratives, hearts, and minds
3wThanks for the mention with such wonderful colleagues!
Global Kindness Advocate | Quality & Transformation Management | Operational Excellence | Leadership Mentor | President PWI-Brussels | Public Speaker | Top 10 Thought Leaders on Mental Health | Bestselling Author
3wWhat a beautifully written piece—thank you for opening up this important conversation. It’s true, we often see titles like “thought leader” or “mental health advocate,” but it’s a whole other experience to hear from those who have truly lived the journey behind the words. I’m honoured to be featured alongside such inspiring voices. For me, kindness isn’t just a soft skill—it’s a powerful strategy for resilience, connection, and sustainable leadership. Let’s keep encouraging one another to lead with more depth, authenticity, and heart.
Experienced public speaker, author, public relations consultant, corporate trainer
3wThank you for including me with this incredible group of people who strive to make a difference.
Senior HR Executive I Workplace Strategist | Corporate Trainer | Author
3wWhat an honor to be recognized for my voice in the mental health space along side such other courageous thought leaders.