We celebrate successful men. We rarely ask if they are okay.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s talk about the hidden battles behind the pulpit, the boardroom and the brave face.
One life lost is one too many. Success, status and spiritual authority are not enough. Let’s check on the man everyone else depends on.
The congregation was shocked. The employees were stunned.
The family was devastated. The WhatsApp groups exploded.
The office corridors buzzed. The church pews whispered.
And yet, in the days and weeks that followed, one uncomfortable truth kept surfacing: Nobody saw it coming.
Or perhaps they did. They just didn’t know what they were looking at.
In recent years, several high-profile cases involving pastors, CEOs and respected leaders have forced us to confront a reality we would rather avoid.
Men who appeared successful, influential, respected and admired were privately fighting battles that neither status, money, titles nor applause could cure.
Some stories made national headlines. Others quietly disappeared beneath social media timelines.
Some were discussed openly. Others became uncomfortable whispers after church service.
But all of them left behind the same haunting question: How can a man who seems to have everything, feel like he has nothing left to live for?
“The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
The CEO Who Led Thousands, But Couldn’t Save Himself
In June 2024, news emerged about the death of d.light CEO Nick Imudia.
The man who had helped light up millions of homes through innovation saw his own story end in heartbreaking circumstances.
He fell from the seventh floor of a residential building.
Many struggled to reconcile the headlines with the man they thought they knew. Here was a leader at the helm of a globally recognized company.
A man entrusted with vision, growth and impact. A man many young professionals would gladly trade places with.
Yet behind the title was a human being carrying burdens few people fully understood.
As NTV Investigates aptly puts it, “Truth is buried in the evidence.”
The Murder Tapes episode unravels the turbulent final chapter of a high-profile CEO. His private life became increasingly complicated.
Allegations of relationships, threats of public exposure, and mounting personal pressure painted a picture of a man whose outward success masked deep turmoil.
What may have begun as pleasure appeared to become pressure.
A reminder that unchecked choices, hidden struggles, and unresolved burdens can quietly grow too heavy to bear.
Employees mourned. Friends searched for answers. Family members were left navigating grief alongside public speculation.
And perhaps the most dangerous narrative surfaced once again: “But he looked fine.”
Mental health rarely announces itself with a public memo. Many men become experts at functioning while falling apart.
The CEO Who Had Built Success, But Lost Peace
Evans Mwaura built Com21, one of Nairobi’s leading ICT firms.
In December 2025, his tragic story erupted. Friends, colleagues and the wider business community struggled to make sense of the loss.
He died after a fall from the 14th floor of an apartment building in Kilimani. A death that investigators treated as a suspected suicide
Once again, a respected leader’s death challenged the assumption that success shields us from emotional pain.
He was described by many as accomplished, visionary and hardworking. Yet his death reminded us that achievement and inner peace are not the same thing.
We live in a culture that teaches men to accumulate. More money. More influence. More followers. More property. More success.
Yet very little attention is given to emotional resilience, vulnerability and healing.
A man can own buildings and still feel trapped. A man can lead teams and still feel alone. A man can be surrounded by people and still feel unseen.
Evans Mwaura’s life reminds us that a successful business can mask a struggling soul. Achievement is no substitute for emotional wellbeing.
The Pastor Who Preached Hope While Carrying His Own Burden
Perhaps the most unsettling stories emerge from the church.
Because somewhere deep inside, many of us still believe that spiritual leaders are somehow immune.
Pastor Peterson Mwangi’s death shocked believers across the country. A familiar face at Jesus Compassion Ministry, in Mtwapa. Serving under Bishop Kiengei.
December 2024 brought heartbreaking news. Pastor Peterson was found dead at his father’s farm in Sagana.
Questions came swiftly. Answers did not.
How could this happen? Wasn’t he a man of faith? Didn’t he know scripture? Didn’t he counsel others? Didn’t he pray?
The assumption hiding beneath those questions is dangerous:
That faith eliminates emotional suffering. It doesn’t.
Faith helps us navigate suffering. But it does not exempt us from being human.
Pastors carry unique burdens.
They absorb people’s pain. They preside over funerals. They counsel struggling marriages. They manage church expectations.
They fight private battles, while being expected to provide public strength.
Many stand before hundreds every Sunday, while silently wondering who would notice if they themselves were struggling. Who shepherds the shepherd?
“Elijah was afraid and ran for his life… ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said.” 1 Kings 19:3-4
The Pastor Who Chose to Speak Up
Not every story ends in tragedy.
And that is why Rev. Daniel Nderitu’s story matters. His final pastoral assignment was at PCEA Thika Town Parish.
His openness about battling depression challenged one of the church’s longest-standing taboos.
For generations, mental health struggles have often been mislabelled.
A lack of faith. A spiritual attack. Weakness. Failure.
Yet scripture paints a different picture.
- Elijah wanted to give up after one of his greatest victories.
- David frequently poured out despair in the Psalms.
- Jeremiah became known as the weeping prophet.
- Job wrestled with overwhelming anguish.
- Even Jesus described being overwhelmed with sorrow.
The Bible does not hide human pain. It records it. It validates it. And it points us toward hope.
Rev. Nderitu’s willingness to speak publicly reminds us that seeking help is not a sign of weak faith. Sometimes it is an expression of faith.
After more than a year on rest and recovery, he was found dead in a hotel room. Leaving behind unanswered questions and renewed conversations about mental health, in ministry.
The Dangerous Lie Men Are Told
The lie begins early.
“Be strong.” “Don’t cry.” “Handle it.” “Man up.” “Others have it worse.”
And so men learn to suffer silently.
They become providers. Protectors. Pastors. CEOs. Managers. Husbands. Fathers. Leaders.
Yet somewhere along the way they stop being human.
Or at least stop giving themselves permission to be.
The result?
Many men know how to lead meetings. But not emotions.
Many know how to build careers. But not support systems.
Many know how to provide financially. But not process pain.
My Own “Still Standing” Season
Reflecting on these stories, I thought about my own journey.
In January 2025, I lost my job after the USAID funding disruptions. Like many men, I didn’t talk about it (at first). I tried to fix it.
I updated my CV, applied for jobs, and stayed busy.
Over the next few months, I sent out over a hundred applications. Some got no response. A few led to interviews. Most ended in silence.
Meanwhile, life continued. School fees, family responsibilities, church commitments, and expectations.
What weighed on me most wasn’t just finances. But, the emotional strain. The late-night questions. The pressure to tie my worth to work.
And the quiet loneliness behind a calm exterior.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
What kept me going were my faith, family, friends, mentors, counselling, and a supportive community.
I learned that resilience isn’t pretending everything is fine. It’s admitting when it’s not and letting others walk with you.
This experience led to my “Still Standing” conversations.
I realized many capable, respected people carry silent burdens. It’s not just a career or leadership issue. It’s a human one.
That’s why these stories of pastors and CEOs resonate.
Different paths, same truth: no title or success can replace the need for connection, support, rest, and hope.
What Can We Learn?
“Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
1. Success Is Not Immunity
Titles do not protect mental health.
Neither do church positions. Neither does wealth. Neither does influence.
Human beings remain human beings.
2. Check On The Strong Ones
The people everyone depends on are often the least supported.
Ask twice. Listen longer.
Stay present.
3. Normalize Help-Seeking
Therapy. Counselling. Mentorship.
Medical support. Pastoral care. Community.
These are not signs of failure. They are tools for survival.
4. Build Safe Communities
Many men are surrounded by people.
But have nobody they can be honest with.
That must change.
5. Faith And Professional Help Can Coexist
Prayer is powerful. So is counselling.
Scripture is essential. So is support.
God often works through people.
A Word To CEOs
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Your company needs you. But your family needs you more.
The quarterly report is important. Your life is more important.
Do not wait until the pressure becomes unbearable.
A Word To Pastors
You are called. But you are also human.
You do not have to carry every burden alone.
The shepherd needs care too.
A Word To Every Man Reading This
If you are tired, talk. If you are overwhelmed, talk.
If you are struggling, talk. If you feel trapped, talk. Do not confuse silence with strength.
The bravest thing a man can sometimes say is: “I am not okay.”
The “Still Standing” journey taught me that surviving a difficult season is rarely a solo effort.
We all need people who can see beyond our titles, our ministries, our businesses and our brave faces.
The question is not whether life will become overwhelming at times.
The question is whether we will have the courage to reach out before the weight becomes unbearable.
The Wake-Up Call We Cannot Ignore
Some of these stories were front-page news. Others faded into whispers.
Yet each one carried the same message. One life lost is too many.
Mental health is not a CEO issue. It is not a pastor issue. It is not a church issue. It is not a corporate issue.
It is a human issue.
And perhaps June Mental Health Awareness Month is reminding us of something simple:
Before we admire a man’s success, let us care about his wellbeing. Before we celebrate his achievements, let us ask how he is doing.
Before we applaud his public victories, let us remember there may be private battles we cannot see.
Because sometimes the man standing tallest is the one closest to breaking. And sometimes a simple conversation can save a life.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12
Let’s make sure no man has to fight alone.
Call to Action
If this article resonated with you, share it with three men in your life: a pastor, a business leader, a father, a brother, a friend.
Then check on them this week. Not with “How are you?” but with “How are you really doing?“
Comment Prompt
In your experience, why do so many men struggle silently?
What practical changes can families, churches and workplaces make to create safer spaces for honest conversations?
#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #MensMentalHealth #StillStanding #FaithAndMentalHealth #ChurchLeadership #ExecutiveWellbeing #BreakTheSilence #GrowthCommunities #YouAreNotAlone #CheckOnYourStrongFriends
Joseph Ngaara is inspired by people’s stories, especially those shaped by faith, resilience, and grace. If you’ve walked through triumph, tragedy, or something beautifully in between and feel ready to share, my inbox is open. 📩 j.mungai@hotmail.co.uk
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