In today’s polarized social and political climate, leadership has become not only emotionally demanding but, in some cases, physically and psychologically dangerous. From targeted violence against corporate leaders to escalating threats toward public officials, judges, election workers, and lawmakers, leaders are operating under unprecedented scrutiny, hostility, and fear.
In this episode of Hope Illuminated, I join Jeff Gorter, Vice President of Clinical Crisis Response at R3 Continuum, to explore what it truly means to lead under assault and how organizations can respond with clarity, compassion, and coordinated care when crises unfold in real time.
This conversation weaves together stories, science, and strategy to illuminate how threat and violence ripple beyond individuals to impact the mental health of entire organizations and communities.
How does leadership under threat affect mental health at large?
When leaders operate under sustained threat, scrutiny, and polarization, stress and trauma do not stay contained. They ripple outward, shaping organizational culture, community trust, decision-making, and psychological safety. Supporting mental health in these contexts requires more than individual resilience; it demands systems that reduce harm, provide structure, and respond humanely when people and institutions are under strain.
Experts describe the current climate as one fueled by political polarization, social fragmentation, and amplified rhetoric, creating a “pressure cooker” for leaders and the communities they serve.
Q: How do threats against leaders affect mental health?
A: Threats against leaders create psychological stress that extends beyond individuals, impacting teams, organizational culture, trust, and community wellbeing.
Key Aspects of Attacks on Leaders
Widespread Threats: Leaders at corporate, civic, judicial, and governmental levels are increasingly targeted, creating a hostile environment for service and decision-making.
Political Polarization: Protests, policy disputes, and cultural flashpoints can escalate rapidly into personal threats, often untethered from facts or formal processes.
Rhetoric and Hate Amplification: Inflammatory language and viral social media narratives can legitimize hostility and increase risk for perceived “opponents.”
Impact on Democracy and Institutions: These assaults signal a broader crisis for democratic norms, rule of law, and trust in institutions—not just isolated incidents.
What Does Sustained Threat Do to Leaders and Organizations?
This episode unpacks how chronic exposure to threat and violence affects individuals and systems, including:
Impaired decision-making under pressure
Increased cognitive load, sleep disruption, and executive functioning strain
Moral injury and identity conflict, especially when service is met with hostility
Erosion of organizational trust, culture, and psychological safety
Research shows that violence and psychological abuse toward leaders and professionals is associated with long-term mental health consequences, burnout, disengagement, and reduced institutional effectiveness (Herrick & Thomas, 2022; Caruso et al., 2022).
We also explore why leaders often feel compelled to “stay strong” and absorb trauma silently—and how that expectation can unintentionally deepen harm for both leaders and those they lead.
About Jeff Gorter, MSW, LCSW
Jeff Gorter is Vice President of Clinical Crisis Response at R3 Continuum and brings more than 30 years of experience in clinical practice, consultation, and large-scale on-site crisis response.
Jeff has responded directly to some of the most significant crises of our time, including:
September 11 terrorist attacks
Hurricane Katrina
Japan earthquake and tsunami
Las Vegas mass shooting
Breach of the U.S. Capitol
2023 Hawaii wildfires
2024 Asheville floods
2025 Washington, DC aviation disaster
His work focuses on helping organizations restore function, rebuild trust, and care for people amid extreme disruption.
R3 Continuum: https://r3c.com/
Jeff Gorter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-gorter-4a219a5/
References
Ames, D. V., Farnham, F. R., Allen, P., Martinsone, A., Sneader, C., & Wolfe Murray, A. (2022). Threats to public figures and association with approach, as a proxy for violence: The importance of grievance. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 998155. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.998155
Caruso, R., Toffanin, T., Folesani, F., Biancosino, B., Romagnolo, F., Riba, M. B., et al. (2022). Violence against physicians in the workplace: Trends, causes, consequences, and strategies for intervention. Current Psychiatry Reports, 24(12), 911–924.
Herrick, R., & Thomas, S. (2022). Not just sticks and stones: Psychological abuse and physical violence among U.S. state senators. Politics & Gender, 18(2), 422–447.