Why Pedro Pascal is Good for Mental Health at Work (No, Really!)
Photo from Wikimedia Commons.
Pedro Pascal is having a moment right now, and it’s well-deserved – the guy’s a great actor, and it’s always refreshing when someone’s name is trending for an act of kindness as opposed to…any of the other things he could be trending for. The Chilean actor is a vocal advocate for LGBTQIAA+ rights, speaks out about the need for the entertainment industry to be more diverse in casting and beyond, and has been upheld in recent years as one of the symbols of modern, non-toxic masculinity. ¹ ² ³
In short, he’s turned us all into this New Yorker comic I found on Instagram:
If you’re thinking, “Mel, what does Pedro Pascal have to do with mental health at work?” just hear me out. We can actually learn a lot from him about how we can manage our mental health at work – and in this article, we’ll explore some takeaways about managing, talking about, and boosting mental health at work, taken from Pedro Pascal’s interviews, actions, and advocacy. Bonus, if you’re a fan, this article also shows there’s a lot to learn about one of this year's most beloved actors.
Managing mental health – and not letting it manage you
While deep-diving through the internet to find links for the section above, I stumbled across a 2019 article in Fandom Wire that discusses, in part, the actor’s relationship with mental health and the challenges around anxiety he's contended with for years.⁴ I think most of us are unsurprised that Pedro is speaking candidly about mental health (and its mental toll) the way he does about other key issues, but it was still great to see. Here’s what Pedro shared:
“Anxiety is something that I’ve lived with since I was a child, so it’s a part of my chemistry. … It’s something that I manage, but it’s also part of what makes me, me.
I know that I have to put myself in high-stress situations to be happy. I mean, within reason. But there’s a certain level of anxiety that helps me do good work. It helps me be aware of the things I need to be aware of.”
You may not need to harness anxiety to method-act your way through your real life 9-to-5, but I see what he’s saying – and it’s a good lesson for all of us, regardless of the work we do and what mental health (or mental illness) experiences and struggles we live with. Understanding that mental health is something to manage and be attuned to helps us live our lives with purpose –– and not let our thoughts run away with us.
What else can we learn about mental health at work from Pedro Pascal?
You thought I was done? Not even close – there’s a lot of press about this guy, and thus a lot to discuss. Here are five more things leaders and employees alike can learn from Pedro about mental health at work:
Inclusion and advocacy matter. Whether you’re a TV star or a team leader, when you talk, other people listen. Case in point: After sharing a post on Instagram in support of transgender people, Pedro’s comments were filled with anti-LGBTQIAA+ sentiments. His response? A strongly-worded smackdown in defense of trans people. At this moment in time, being an advocate for marginalized groups matters, especially if you’re in a position of social power. Effective allyship contributes to feelings of belonging and inclusion in the workplace – which is essential to maintaining good mental health.⁵
Hang onto your boundaries. Time and time again, I’ve read articles where the press has asked Pedro about romantic relationships, and he’s (very gracefully, might I add) sidestepped that part of the conversation. Clearly, this is a boundary he wants to uphold, and good for him! Holding meaningful boundaries in your everyday life is one of the best ways to manage stress at work, and as Pedro proves, you don’t have to be considered “confrontational” to do it.⁶
Take action – even if you’re scared. When we’re anxious, stressed, or burned out, it’s natural to avoid the things that make us uncomfortable. Like Pedro mentioned in that same 2019 article, sometimes you have to approach what you want in spite of the fear. That’s what we call resilience.⁷
Choose kindness consistently. You don’t have to scroll far to find evidence that Pedro is a nice guy. From his Jimmy Kimmel appearance where he talks about not wanting to leave a group chat for fear of offending his 30+ cousins (relatable…not the cousins part, though) to his Instagram posts that consistently proclaim support for marginalized groups while denouncing misogynistic comments, it seems as though he takes every opportunity he can to be kind. Whether you’re having the best day of your life at work or your personal life is kicking you while you're down, kindness is a choice we should all be making every day. (Plus, being kind has been scientifically proven to also make you happier.⁸)
Engage your sense of humor. It’s rough out there. No one’s going to argue with that – and it can be super easy to let the mental toll of misery impact you. Allow yourself, however it looks, to have a much-needed break from the emotional intensity. If you need something to laugh at, I recommend Pedro’s Vanity Fair lie detector test video.
There’s no denying we’re living in the weirdest timeline and also that it’s never been more important to manage our mental health. It's a continuous journey, but it's one worth taking. May Pedro Pascal serve as a reminder to us all that good mental health at work means not letting our minds manage us, staying silly in the face of stress, and remaining as resilient as we can even when it feels daunting to do so.
Need help with mental health at work?
With that said, it’s important to remember that mental health isn’t optional in the workplace. It’s essential that leaders and employees have the tools they need to navigate uncertainty, have sincere conversations, and sustain forward momentum. If your organization needs help, please reach out – I’ll walk you through my in-person and virtual programs and services, and we’ll find the right customized option based on your needs.
Sources:
¹Pedro Pascal claps back against anti-trans trolls in Instagram comments (Today.com).
²Pedro Pascal Advocates For Diversity And Inclusive Casting In The Entertainment Industry (GameSpot).
³How Pedro Pascal Became a Symbol of Modern Masculinity (Men’s Health).
⁴“Men’s mental health is not a joke” (Fandom Wire).
⁵The Role of Allyship in Promoting Diversity and Inclusion (CultureAlly).
⁶Coping with stress at work (American Psychological Association).
⁷Life can be challenging: Build your own resilience plan (Harvard Health Publishing).
⁸The Science of Kindness (Cedars-Sinai).
