Local politics is a high-stakes high-pressure arena, where decisions matter and have real life implications for people and our communities. Yet, it can be easy to forget that beneath the headlines and policy debates are human beings—elected officials and staff — who are doing their best under high-levels of scrutiny, decreasing trust, ever-increasing expectations, and diminishing resources.
So how are our elected leaders dealing (or not dealing) with this pressure? This question is fast becoming a priority for those interested in the health of our democracies. And is of high priority for us here at Locale Learning. So much so that we are hosting the inaugural Political Wellbeing Summit in February 2025.
In preparation for the Summit, we spoke to our international panel guests at length to really understand why they care about the wellbeing of politicians. During our interviews a common theme occurred – this was both a personally meaningful pursuit and a necessary leadership skill for politicians today. This issue extends across all levels of government and common themes are emerging across the world.
In this article, we share some of the key take-aways from these conversations. But to get all the juicy bits from our guests, you’ll need to join us at the Summit!
Our international panel is united by a common purpose and passion to elevate the conversation about the mental wellbeing of our elected leaders.
Kimberly McArthur
Apolitical Foundation
Skippy Mesirow
Elected Leaders Collective
Kimberly McArthur, author of the ground-breaking Mere Mortals report – the state of politicians mental wellbeing, shared that her passion for this work stems from witnessing mental ill health within her family and recognising how it can limit even the most brilliant minds. As a citizen, she expects the leaders she elects to perform at their best, but she knows that poor mental wellbeing hampers their ability to be fully effective. Her mission is clear: support leaders to thrive, not just survive.
Jordan Simmons echoed this sentiment, drawing from his personal experience as a political campaigner and staffer. While his early political career gave him a deep sense of belonging, the systemic challenges he faced led to burnout. Pivoting to the private sector, where his work in ed-tech sparked an idea: political leadership training through his co-founded organisation, Nominee. Their goal is to upskill BIPOC leaders (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and others from underrepresented communities to not only enter politics but thrive within it.
Chloë Spackman, who has worked extensively in international development and systems transformation, added another dimension to this issue. She noted that elected leaders often lack job descriptions and structured guidance, making it difficult for them to prioritise their work. She emphasized the importance of values-based decision-making and the need to educate communities about the roles and responsibilities of elected officials. Her work at Next 25 focuses on supporting leaders in building democratic resilience and fostering long-term systemic change.
Skippy Mesirow from the Elected Leaders Collective has deep personal experience as an elected official. He understands the challenges and pressures from the inside and is now on a personal mission to support people in the same situation by elevating their mental resilience for better performance.
From their respective vantage points, our panel guests have described troubling trends in the challenges that our elected leaders face particuarly with respect to their wellbeing. For example, at events Kimberly organises, elected leaders often express the high-pressure nature of leadership, combined with stigma around mental health, makes it difficult for politicians to seek help. There is a sigh of relief in discovering that “political wellbeing is a thing.”
Jordan noted a particularly alarming pattern: leaders who bravely step up to serve are stepping back down. The risk-reward balance is skewed, with the emotional toll of leadership outweighing the perceived impact they can make. Following recent U.S. elections, many once-driven individuals are finding it harder to sustain the energy needed to continue their work. This disconnect—between the desire to create change and the political system as a vehicle for that change—underscores the urgent need for support structures.
In an Australian context, Chloë further noted the lack of safe spaces for politicians to discuss their mental health. While progress has been made in reducing stigma, there remains a significant gap in resources that provide consistent support. She stressed that leaders need environments where they can openly share their struggles without fear of political repercussions.
Skippy experienced his own burnout in elected life and witnesssed many other leaders struggle with the pressures of the role. This reflects our experience and observations working directly with councillors in Australia.
Despite these challenges, there is a growing movement leading the charge toward a healthier political culture.
And as the movement grows, collaboration among organisations working proactively in this space will strengthen the overall movement for political wellbeing.
The insights shared in these interviews make one thing clear: ensuring that those who step up into formal roles of political leadership are mentally fit and able to perform at their best, is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. And we all have a role to play in supporting the leaders who shape our world.
Don't just take our word for it - join us at the inaugural Political Wellbeing Summit to hear directly from our guest speakers in-depth and to gain insights into how you can be part of this change.
Purchase individual tickets below. For group bookings, contact us contact@localelearning.com.au or 0421 180 881.
