Addressing the mental health strain on public leaders

MPR News with Angela Davis · Aug 5, 2026 · 46m

Public office has always been demanding, but the stress of leadership seems to be taking a bigger toll on elected officials’ mental health.

Several city council members in Minnesota recently shared their struggles with mental health, including a Minneapolis council member who took a break to attend to depression and anxiety. Earlier this year, St. Paul’s city council president resigned, citing “the “constant stressors of public leadership.”

At a national level, a U.S. representative from New Jersey disclosed in June that he was being treated for depression after a four-month absence from…