Entrepreneurs and mental health
“By the end of the twentieth-century creativity became the driving force behind America’s explosive economic growth. The creativity that drives economic growth is also a common feature of people with bipolar spectrum conditions, depression, substance use conditions, and ADHD.”
— Dr. Michael Freeman, Are Entrepreneurs “Touched with Fire”?
A 2015 study by researchers from UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco discusses, among other things, why entrepreneurs are more likely to have mental illnesses than the rest of the population.
We know that 1 in 5 adults will experience mental illness within a given year.
We also know that entrepreneurs are...
2x as likely to suffer from depression
2x as likely to have suicidal thoughts
2x as likely to experience psychiatric hospitalization
3x as likely to suffer from substance abuse
10x as likely to suffer from bipolar disorder
When the timing is right, I have two conversations with fellow entrepreneurs to help with their mental health journey.
Share Your Struggles
I have an honest conversation about my own struggles. I find that my own vulnerability enables others to share their if and when they are comfortable. At Fancred, my team and were a part of Techstars Boston in the spring of 2013. While Techstars has since had thousands of classes at a global level, we were class #22, an
I had two panic attacks in the 14 weeks of the program. This was, of course, no fault of Techstars, but rather the result of the pressure I’d placed on myself by way of the narrative I created and believed.
Once I have this conversation with founders, I find that entrepreneurs are more proactive in discussing the mental health of themselves and their team.
“How are you, really?”
Second, a conversation I try to have at least once a quarter with founders I advise and mentor is the “How are you, really?” conversation.
It’s a delicate conversation because many of us grew up in a time when mental health conversations were taboo.
No one wants to admit that they need help, and this feeling only intensifies in successful, confident, independent people… and entrepreneurs are almost always successful, confident, independent people.
It’s important to be reminded that all founders go through rough times.
As always, holler if I can help.
Written while consuming the following...
🍺 Untitled Art Non-Alcoholic Italian Pilsner
🏒 Bruins vs. Ducks