Mental Health Is Trending, But Are We Actually Getting Better?
- Brainz Magazine
- Jul 30
- 11 min read
Genta Spaho-Vazquez is a lifestyle entrepreneur and founder of Genta Wellness and The Glow Social Club, a global wellness movement redefining what it means to feel good. Through her signature freedom-based approach, she helps high-achieving women break the burnout cycle and build a lifestyle that runs on clarity, energy, and ease.
Mental health has never been more mainstream. Scroll through social media and you’ll find countless self-care tips and mental health awareness posts. In fact, the hashtag mental health alone has over 45 billion views on TikTok.
Wellness has exploded into a $1.8 trillion global industry selling everything from mindfulness apps to vitamin IV drips. In workplaces, 82% of U.S. consumers now consider wellness a top priority, and executives routinely proclaim the importance of well-being. Yet for all this visibility and talk, deeper challenges remain unresolved. One in five Americans experienced a mental illness in the past year, but nearly 60% received no treatment. Globally, almost 800 million people live with mental health disorders, even as awareness campaigns trend worldwide. The paradox is stark: mental health has entered the pop culture spotlight, but the actual crisis persists.
Rising rates of anxiety, burnout, and depression signal that awareness alone isn’t enough. What happens when “mental health” becomes a buzzwor,d and how do we move from talking about it to truly healing? This article tackles that question head-on, examining the glossy wellness culture we’ve built and charting a path toward authentic, equitable mental health support.
Wellness as content: The commodification of healing
In our Instagram and TikTok era, wellness has become content. Social feeds overflow with aesthetically pleasing infographics telling us to “Remember to take care of yourself” or “It’s okay to not be okay.” These messages have good intentions, but too often they ring superficial.
Mental health has been packaged as a lifestyle trend, something to consume, post, or even wear on a T-shirt. (It’s not uncommon to see slogan merch like “Anxiety Queen” necklaces now.) The result is “wellness-as-content”: a constant stream of feel-good quotes, soothing color palettes, and influencer advice that garners likes but may gloss over the messy reality of healing.
This performative wellness culture has its pitfalls. Instead of normalizing mental illness, we risk glamorizing it. It’s easy to click “heart” on a positive affirmation, but much harder to sit with a friend through a panic attack at 2 A.M. Healing gets portrayed as a linear path of yoga poses and bath bombs, curated for social media. Meanwhile, the wellness industry eagerly steps in to sell us solutions. We find ourselves bombarded with offerings, biometric rings, mindfulness apps, and boutique supplements, all promising to optimize our well-being. Self-care becomes a commodity, something you buy or follow rather than a deeply personal journey. As one critic observed, “wellbeing is presented as complicated, difficult to achieve correctly and best when purchased all the while requiring gurus to access it”. In other words, the act of healing is being marketed back to us as an expensive, Instagrammable pursuit.
None of this is to say that social media communities or wellness products have no value. Online platforms have connected people to mental health conversations that were once taboo, and some tools (like meditation apps or mood trackers) genuinely help individuals cope. The problem is when the medium overtakes the message. If we’re performing wellness instead of living it, we risk ignoring the deeper work required. Healing isn’t a spectator sport or a trendy hashtag; it’s a profound, ongoing process that can’t be boiled down to 60-second reels. And that process is not equally accessible to everyone, which brings us to a critical blind spot in today’s wellness culture.
The accessibility gap: Wellness culture’s inequalities
Beneath wellness culture’s glossy surface lies an uncomfortable truth: not everyone can “subscribe” to mental well-being in the same way. The ability to partake in many popular wellness activities, from pricey organic meal plans to $200/month yoga studios or premium therapy apps, often requires a level of privilege. It’s easier to preach self-care when you have paid time off, health insurance, and a safe environment. But what about those who don’t? The current wellness boom, for all its positivity, can unintentionally exclude large segments of society.
Consider the basics often touted as foundations of mental well-being: healthy food, exercise, rest, and stress reduction. These “basics” are not basic at all for billions of people. For example, a healthy diet is a key pillar of both physical and mental health, yet over 3 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet worldwide. Telling someone to “just eat healthier” or “practice mindfulness in nature” rings hollow if they live in a food desert or juggle two jobs to pay rent. Even something as straightforward as getting enough sleep may be a luxury for a single parent working the night shift.
Moreover, mental health outcomes are powerfully shaped by systemic and structural factors. The World Health Organization reminds us that mental health is determined by a web of influences: individual, social, and structural. Poverty, discrimination, violence, and lack of access to healthcare are all risk factors that no amount of positive thinking or aromatherapy can fix. While wellness products can help with stress or loneliness at the margins, they cannot address entrenched inequalities like income disparity or racial trauma. These issues require policy changes and community investment, not a new vitamin supplement.
The narrative that “you must buy this or do that to be well” is not only misleading, it’s isolating. It implies that those who can’t afford the latest self-improvement trend are simply excluded from wellness. This creates what one might call an “exclusionary wellness club,” where only those with disposable income and time get to fully participate. We have to challenge that narrative.
True mental well-being should not be a luxury item; it must be a universal goal, pursued through both personal practices and collective action to remove barriers. Mental health is, as the 2023 World Mental Health Day theme declared, a universal human right. Achieving that right means ensuring everyone, not just the privileged few, can access effective support and care.
Authentic healing: Embracing the messy reality
If the wellness industry sells an airbrushed image of healing, what does authentic healing really look like? For starters, it’s not a smooth, photogenic journey. Healing is messy. It’s the survivor of trauma rebuilding their sense of safety one day at a time. It’s the person with depression celebrating the small victory of getting out of bed and taking a shower after a week of darkness. It can be tear-streaked therapy sessions, restless nights confronting old demons, and slow progress that only you can measure. Authentic healing often looks “unimpressive” from the outside, and that’s exactly why it can’t be packaged as content.
On social media, mental health struggles are often shown in a diluted form, if at all. But real recovery isn’t always pretty or “positive vibes only.” As one writer who battled depression put it, “it’s not pretty. It’s not fun, and it can get really ugly.” The reality of mental illness can mean going a month without the energy to brush your teeth or clean your room.
In one much-discussed example, a young woman shared on TikTok that she managed to brush her teeth for the first time in weeks, and while many cheered her on, some responded with shock or ridicule, calling it “gross”. The episode sparked a debate: those who’ve been through severe depression understood exactly how monumental that small act was, whereas others, supportive only up to the point where things “get ugly,” showed how little society still grasps about the true face of mental illness.
Authentic healing honors the full spectrum of these experiences, not just the acceptable or inspirational parts. It means acknowledging that progress is not linear, setbacks happen, and “breakthroughs” might look like breakdowns at first. Healing may involve professional help (therapy, medication) and personal growth (setting boundaries, practicing self-compassion), but it also requires patience and honesty. Sometimes healing means admitting you’re not okay and asking for help, which is far more courageous than suffering in silence behind a curated smile. It can mean finding community, a support group, a trusted friend, a mentor who sees you in your worst moments and doesn’t turn away.
Above all, authentic healing is deeply personal and culturally contextual. There is no one-size-fits-all formula. For some, prayer or traditional practices are key; for others, creativity or activism becomes a healing outlet. What’s universal, however, is that genuine healing isn’t something you consume or perform for others. It’s an inner process of reconciling pain, finding meaning, and slowly growing in resilience. We need to make space for these raw, unpolished journeys in our mental health culture. When someone opens up about their struggle, our response must go beyond, “Hang in there, here’s a quote to cheer you up.” True support might look like listening without judgment, helping them access real resources, or simply being there consistently, even (and especially) when it’s not Instagrammable.
From performative to purposeful: How leaders can champion real support
The gap between performative support and substantive support for mental health is one that leaders and organizations have the power to close. It’s encouraging that today’s leaders are talking about mental health more than ever. In 2024, 89% of employees say their leaders now openly discuss their own mental well-being, up from just 35% in 2020. The conversation is starting. But words and awareness campaigns alone do not automatically create a mentally healthy culture. Decision-makers must pair the talk with tangible, meaningful action. Here are some actionable steps and insights for moving from performance to progress:
Invest in real resources and benefits
Ensure that mental health support is baked into your organization’s offerings. This could mean providing insurance-covered therapy or counseling services, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), mental health days, or stipends for wellbeing activities. The return on investment is clear: companies that prioritize mental health see concrete benefits 91% of workers whose employers offer mental health support report job satisfaction, versus only 76% for those without such support. It’s not just the right thing to do; it’s smart business.
Tackle systemic stressors
No wellness app will compensate for a toxic work environment or unrealistic demands. Leaders should take a hard look at workplace culture and policies. Are workloads and expectations reasonable? Do employees have autonomy and flexibility? Burnout often stems from structural issues like chronic overwork, lack of role clarity, or poor communication. Addressing these root causes by setting healthier performance goals, encouraging work-life balance, and training managers to support (not stigmatize) mental health creates lasting change. Remember, nearly half of employees say most of their stress comes from work, and it frequently spills into physical health issues and even personal relationships. Reducing harmful stress at the source is a powerful preventive strategy.
Create a culture of safety and inclusivity
Workplace mental health flourishes in an atmosphere of trust and psychological safety. Leaders can cultivate this by modeling vulnerability (appropriately sharing their own challenges or coping strategies) and by responding with empathy when employees struggle. Providing mental health training for managers is crucial so they know how to handle sensitive conversations and can spot signs of distress. It’s also key to recognize the diverse needs of a diverse workforce: ensure your mental health initiatives are culturally sensitive and inclusive.
Not everyone heals the same way; some may prefer talking to a peer from an Employee Resource Group, while others might use anonymous hotlines. Solicit feedback from your team about what support they find meaningful. Inclusion also means addressing inequalities: if lower-wage workers have less access to certain benefits (like flexible schedules or teletherapy), work to bridge that gap so support isn’t only for the higher-ups.
Move beyond symbolic gestures
Posting a hashtag on World Mental Health Day or offering a meditation app subscription is fine, but on its own, it’s performative. To be substantive, tie your initiatives to outcomes. For example, if you launch a wellness program, track participation and impact (confidentially and respectfully). Are employees actually using that meditation room or counseling service? Has productivity or sick leave improved? Make mental well-being a measurable part of your organizational goals, just like safety or customer satisfaction. And be prepared to iterate, maybe the nap pods aren’t as helpful as you thought, but a quiet change like encouraging lunch breaks (instead of working lunches) makes a difference. Listen to what people need, not just what’s trendy.
Partner and educate
Leaders don’t have to figure it all out alone. Collaborate with mental health professionals to guide your strategy. Bring in experts for workshops on resilience, or partner with local mental health organizations to provide resources for your community. Education is empowerment. The more your team (including leadership) understands about mental health, the more proactive and compassionate your culture will be. This could mean training on recognizing signs of common issues like anxiety or depression and how to respond, or simply providing materials that normalize seeking help. Encourage peer support networks and mentoring, so employees at all levels feel they have someone to turn to.
In implementing these steps, consistency and authenticity are key. Employees, constituents, or community members will recognize genuine commitment versus a box-ticking exercise. The goal is to create an environment where mental health is woven into the fabric of organizational culture – where it’s okay to say “I’m feeling burned out, I need help,” and that admission is met with support and solutions, not stigma or silence. As data shows, when organizations truly support mental well-being, people thrive, and so do businesses. It’s a win-win that moves us past performative allyship into real allyship.
Leading a new era of mental health culture
The movement for mental health has reached a tipping point. We’ve raised awareness to levels unimaginable a generation ago; mental health is now part of mainstream discourse, from pop songs to boardroom agendas. That in itself is a triumph of cultural change. But awareness is the starting line, not the finish. Now is the time for bold leadership and emotional intelligence to translate awareness into action.
What does it mean to be a thought leader in mental health today? It means challenging the status quo of superficial wellness trends and digging deeper into what truly heals. It means using one’s platform, whether as a CEO, a community organizer, or simply a vocal individual, to highlight not just the palatable parts of mental health but the hard truths about pain, inequality, and the slow road to recovery. A culture-forward leader on this issue doesn’t shy away from words like “messy,” “complicated,” or “uncomfortable.” In fact, they normalize them, making it clear that mental well-being is not about having it all together, but about supporting each other when we fall apart.
As we look ahead, envision a mental health culture that is both poetic and pragmatic: one that honors personal stories and struggles (the poetry of our lived experience) while also driving systemic improvements (the pragmatic policies and supports that make healing possible for all). We each have a role in building this culture. For wellness professionals and influencers, it’s an invitation to go beyond curated content and engage with substance and honesty. For corporate and political decision-makers, it’s a call to back up compassionate words with budgets and initiatives that make a difference on the ground. For every one of us as individuals, it’s a reminder that caring for our own and others’ mental health is not a trend but a continuous act of empathy and courage.
In closing, the popularity of mental health in our culture is a sign of progress, but it’s time to elevate the conversation. By addressing the commodification and inequalities of the current wellness landscape, by embracing the real, unvarnished process of healing, and by taking concrete steps to support mental well-being, we can turn a cultural moment into a lasting movement.
Let’s move forward as champions of a mental health culture that is inclusive, authentic, and deeply human. In doing so, we not only help those who are struggling in silence, but we also lead by example, showing that a better way is possible. This is how we, as emotionally intelligent leaders and communities, will bridge the gap between performative care and transformative care. The world is watching, hurting, and hopeful. Let’s show what true healing culture can be.
Read more from Genta Spaho-Vazquez
Genta Spaho-Vazquez, Lifestyle Entrepreneur, Founder of Genta Wellness
Genta Spaho-Vazquez is a lifestyle entrepreneur and founder of Genta Wellness and The Glow Social Club. After spending 12 years climbing the corporate ladder—and burning out in the process—she realized the traditional approach to wellness wasn’t built for ambitious women like her. That experience became the catalyst for creating her signature freedom-based approach to health. Today, Genta leads a global community of high-achieving women ready to reclaim their energy, reset their health, and build a lifestyle rooted in clarity and ease. Her mission: wellness that works in real life.
