Do you ever feel like you’re living inside a template that was designed for everyone but somehow doesn’t quite fit you? A script that tells you how to succeed, how to behave, how to cope — and most importantly, how to hide when things fall apart? In this deeply honest conversation, Leone Chege (@lnchege), a Psychotherapist at Sankofa Wellness Africa in Kenya, helped us unpack what it means to break free from that template and begin leading with vulnerability, especially as we confront the difficult but necessary topic of suicide.

So many people move through life performing strength rather than experiencing it. We smile when we’re overwhelmed. We say “I’m fine” when we’re exhausted. We keep up appearances because somewhere along the way, we were taught that struggle should be private and pain should be silent. But silence can become suffocating. When people feel trapped inside expectations they cannot meet or emotions they cannot express, hopelessness can quietly take root.

Leading with vulnerability challenges that culture of silence. It invites us to speak honestly about our mental health, our doubts, and our darkest moments without shame. Vulnerability is not about oversharing or dramatizing pain; it is about authenticity. It is about saying, “This is hard,” and allowing others to meet you there. When one person speaks openly, it gives others permission to do the same. And that shift is powerful enough to change lives.

Changing the narrative around suicide requires more than awareness campaigns; it requires connection. It requires communities that listen without judgment, friends who check in beyond surface-level conversations, and families that create safe emotional spaces. When people feel seen and heard, the weight they carry becomes lighter. Sometimes survival is not about having all the answers — it is about knowing you are not alone in the questions.