Why Mental Health Awareness Month Matters More Than Ever
By Ben Jackson, CEO of Guardify
May is Mental Health Awareness Month—and that means it’s time for a real conversation.
Not the surface-level, poster-on-the-wall kind. I’m talking about the hard, honest truths that so many of us carry silently.
What You Can’t See Can Still Hurt
At Guardify, we work closely with professionals who serve on the frontlines of trauma every day—child advocates, forensic interviewers, law enforcement, and prosecutors. These people witness humanity at its most vulnerable. They carry stories no one should have to carry.
And yet, even as we celebrate their strength, we don’t always make space for their struggles.
Here’s what I’ve learned: mental health isn’t a side issue—it’s the foundation.
A Personal Note: Loss, Guilt, and the Silence That Kills
I’ve lost several loved ones to suicide. Friends. Family. Bright, loving, incredible people who couldn’t find a way out of their pain.
Each loss changed me. They taught me that pain doesn’t always look loud or obvious. It can show up with a smile, a joke, or just the words “I’m fine.”
That’s why Mental Health Awareness Month matters. Because too many people think they have to carry the weight alone.
You’re Not Alone—And You’re Not Weak
Mental health challenges don’t discriminate. They affect people in uniform and people in hoodies. Kids and CEOs. Parents and partners.
We need to normalize help-seeking as an act of courage, not weakness. Therapy, support groups, medication, sabbaticals—these are tools of survival and strength.
If you’re struggling right now, you’re not broken. You’re human.
Resources That Save Lives
Please share these with someone who might need them—or keep them handy for yourself:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Available 24/7, nationwide. Call or text 988.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Education, support, and resources.
- Blue H.E.L.P. – For law enforcement and their families navigating mental health.
Guardify’s Commitment
Our team builds tools to make life easier, workflows smoother, and stress lighter. But we also want to be part of the solution that goes beyond software—by standing up for the people who use it.
Let this month be a reset. Check in on your team. Ask better questions. Take care of your own heart, too.
You matter. More than any title, badge, or workload. Just you—alive, breathing, and human.
With care,
Ben Jackson
CEO, Guardify
