#56 - Sick Not Weak: Ending the Mental Health stigma with Michael Landsberg

Michael is fighting the core problem of stigma-driven silence—the belief that depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses are personal weaknesses. His work aims to shift the narrative to “sick, not weak”, so people get help sooner, caregivers understand better, and fewer individuals suffer alone. In today’s conversation Michael Landsberg explores his journey from decades in Canadian sports media to becoming one of the country’s most visible mental health advocates. He shares how anxiety shaped his early life, how a family health crisis preceded a devastating depressive episode, and why speaking openly on-air in 2009 changed the direction of his life. Dr. Wells and Michael dig into how language shapes stigma, why “weakness” is the wrong frame, and how being truly understood is often the first step toward healing. You will learn why mental illness stigma persists—and how a simple shift in language (“sickness, not weakness”) can change whether people reach for help. You’ll learn what depression can actually feel like from the inside, and why “normal stress” language can unintentionally minimize real illness. You’ll learn how honesty (shared with strength, not shame) can empower others to speak up—especially men and high performers who feel pressure to look “fine.” You’ll also learn why caregivers need support too, and how understanding—not fixing—is often the most powerful first move.You will discover that loneliness isn’t about being alone—it’s about not feeling understood—and that finding one person who truly “gets it” can meaningfully reduce isolation and open the door to recovery.Michael helps solve the challenge of how to talk about mental health in a way that reduces shame—so people struggling (and the people who love them) can move from silence to support without judgment.