What Elon Musk and Other Top CEOs Teach Us About Mental Health

In today’s hustle culture, it’s easy to believe that success and mental health can’t coexist. But some of the most powerful and high-achieving leaders in the world are pulling back the curtain—and showing us that mental wellness isn’t a luxury. It’s a leadership skill.

From Silicon Valley to Wall Street, these CEOs have shared hard-earned truths about stress, burnout, emotional resilience, and the importance of staying grounded. Here’s what they’ve said—and how you can use it to support your own mental health journey.

1. Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, X): Ketamine Helps

“There are times when I have sort of a … negative chemical state in my brain, like depression I guess, or depression that’s not linked to any negative news, and ketamine is helpful for getting one out of the negative frame of mind,” Musk told Lemon. Musk added that he has a prescription for the drug from “an actual, real doctor” and uses “a small amount once every other week or something like that.”— Elon Musk, via CNN interview with Don Lemmon

Elon Musk might be known for innovation and ambition, but he’s also spoken candidly about depression and using ketamine to manage mental health. It should be noted that later coverage of his ketamine usage should serve as a warning on the dangers of at-home ketamine treatment and why a professional always needs to be involved.

Try this:
If you’ve been feeling persistently low or overwhelmed, talk to someone. Whether it’s therapy, medication, or alternative depression treatments, you don’t have to tough it out alone. Even the most driven minds need support.

2. Jensen Huang (CEO of NVIDIA): Resilience Is Built Through Struggle

“I hope suffering happens to you… Greatness comes from character and character isn’t formed out of smart people — it is formed out of people who suffered.”
— Jensen Huang, Stanford speech

Huang, who built NVIDIA from near collapse into an AI powerhouse, credits emotional hardship as the forge of strength. He even warns that “people with very high expectations have very low resilience,” reminding us that perfectionism can be a mental trap.

Try this:
When you’re going through something hard, ask yourself: “What is this teaching me?” Struggles can be fertilizer for future confidence and character, but only if you give yourself space to reflect and grow.

3. Warren Buffett (CEO of Berkshire Hathaway): Protect Your Mind Like a Priceless Asset

“You only get one mind and one body. And it’s got to last a lifetime.”
— Warren Buffett, Inc

Buffett might be best known for investing advice, but this quote might be his most valuable insight of all. He believes in preserving your mental capacity through rest, healthy habits, and surrounding yourself with people who inspire.

Try this:
Think of your mind as your most important investment. Would you run it into the ground without maintenance? Or would you protect and fuel it intentionally? If anxiety is like a rattle in the engine, would you continue to run it without having a professional look at it? Commit to making the investment now with your mental health so that you can gain the dividends of those investments well into the future.  

4. Mary Barra (CEO of General Motors): Progress is Better than Perfect

“Don’t limit your potential. Progress does not always travel in a straight line. Each new opportunity will broaden your skills and perspective.”
— Mary Barra, Stanford Graduate School of Business

Barra leads one of the world’s largest automakers, and she gives herself grace when progress doesn't always follow a perfectly laid-out path. Her leadership style reflects a belief that progress is messy and that's ok.

Try this:
Take a hard look at your expectations for healing. Are you judging yourself too harshly that you're not further along? Or are there opportunities to give yourself grace?

5. Carol Tomé (CEO of UPS): Feedback is the key to progress

“Feedback is a gift, if you're willing to receive it.”
— Carol Tomé, How Leaders Lead Podcast

As the head of a global logistics giant, Tomé discusses how feedback is not conflict, but rather development.

Try this:
Achieving mental health goals is much easier when you can receive feedback, tools, and support with a professional invested in your mental health. Don't avoid conflict. Understand where you are being limited and start investing in your mind that can pay greater dividends in the future!

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Be a CEO to Take the Lead with Your Own Mental Health

These leaders show us that success isn’t about hiding our humanity – it’s about embracing it. Whether you’re managing a team or just trying to stay afloat, the same principles apply:

• Struggle builds strength.

• Protect your mind like your future depends on it—because it does.

• Progress over perfection

• Feedback is a gift

No one’s mental health is perfect. But the more we talk about it, honor it, and invest in it, the more we thrive on our own terms.

Need a mental health reset?

If you’ve been feeling stuck, numb, or overwhelmed, you're not alone. At Axis Integrated Mental Health, we help high-performing professionals get their lives back with cutting-edge ketamine and TMS treatments, fast access, and a team that sees beyond gender bias to get you the right care. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does Elon Musk manage his mental health while running multiple companies?

• What mental health challenges has Elon Musk publicly discussed?

• Can high achievers like CEOs really struggle with mental health too?

• What are some practical mental health habits successful leaders use?

• How can I apply mental health strategies from leaders like Elon Musk in my own life?