THE MENTAL HEALTH OF ENTREPRENEURS
Mental health is a hot topic at the moment and rightly so. The statistics are worrying for the general population regarding general mental ill-health. But, the statistics for entrepreneurs are down right terrifying.
In 2015, Dr. Michael Freeman conducted a survey which resulted in the shocking evaluation that a whopping 49% of entrepreneurs surveyed said that they have experienced mental health issues. That is a huge jump from the 18.9% of the mental health problems diagnosed in Ireland today.
But why is this epidemic so prevalent among entrepreneurs and what can we do to help combat the problem?
SLEEP DEPRIVATION
Entrepreneurs are infamously known for their long hours of work. Late nights working to get the business off the ground on a shoe-string budget. There is huge amounts of time, thought and most importantly, money that goes into hiring staff or even acquiring a business partner and so many early stage start-up entrepreneurs go it alone until they have obtain the time and money to do so. But this means, in the meantime, they are going it alone with late nights, no sleep and LOTS of caffeine.
But what does sleep deprivation do to our mental health?
Well there are two categories of sleep: quite sleep and REM sleep, both of which occur every 90 minutes for the average person.
During “quiet” sleep, a person progresses through four stages of increasingly deep sleep. Body temperature drops, muscles relax, and heart rate and breathing slow. The deepest stage of quiet sleep produces physiological changes that help boost immune system functioning.
The other sleep category, REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, is the period when people dream. Body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing increase to levels measured when people are awake. Studies report that REM sleep enhances learning and memory, and contributes to emotional health — in complex ways.
Although scientists are still trying to tease apart all the mechanisms, they’ve discovered that sleep disruption — which affects levels of neurotransmitters and stress hormones, among other things — wreaks havoc in the brain, impairing thinking and emotional regulation. In this way, insomnia may amplify the effects of psychiatric disorders, and vice versa. (Harvard Health Publishing)
A low sleep and high caffeinated diet means that hard-working and driven entrepreneurs are setting themselves up for a fall when it comes to mental health.
HIGH STRESS ENVIRONMENT
Entrepreneurs, from the outset, surround themselves in environments that are harder to practice good mental health habits as they tend to be high stress environments. Entrepreneurs are in a constant struggle with uncertainty. Starting businesses means that there is no certainty of anything yet entrepreneurs are wholly responsible for the outcome of their actions. This means that they are held accountable and responsible for occurrences that are truly outside of their control. This stress become routine in the life of an entrepreneur.
Routine stress may be the hardest type of stress to notice at first. Because the source of stress tends to be more constant than in cases of acute or traumatic stress, the body gets no clear signal to return to normal functioning. Over time, continued strain on your body from routine stress may contribute to serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other illnesses, as well as mental disorders like depression or anxiety. (National Institute of Mental Health)
The very nature of the job of an entrepreneur can lead to mental health issues so it should be in the forefront of the minds of all entrepreneurs.
SOCIAL ISOLATION
Long hours, high stress and the personal risk implication factor of entrepreneurship means that entrepreneurs experience a great deal of social isolation. Many may not have offices and work from home or are at the office late to try and pull things together on a shoe-string budget.
This coupled with people encouraging them to ‘get a real job’ and balancing impression management – attempting to give the impression that they have it all together – entrepreneurs find greater distances developing between them and people around them.
We are a social species. Our social networks (families, tribes, communities, etc.) enabled us to survive and thrive. Our survival was served by the evolutionary development of behaviors and physiologic mechanisms (neural, hormonal, cellular, genetic) that support social interactions. But as with all human traits, there is variation in our social behaviors and needs. The fact is, most of us are psychologically and biologically “programmed” to need social networks. It is logical that social isolation may impose stress on our minds and bodies that has a significant impact on health. (Age Life Care Association)
GENETICS
In recent years, much research has been conducted in the mental health of entrepreneurs and an interesting finding that is presenting itself in these studies suggest that mental health conditions are not only common but may actually fuel the entrepreneurial drive.
Mental health conditions such as depression, ADHD and Bipolar disorder are most common among entrepreneurs but these mental health conditions are accompanied by positive traits that enable entrepreneurs to excel.
People who have ADHD for instance have a need for acting quickly and are happy when constantly engaged in speedy interactions. They have a keen interest in exploration and a talent for recognizing opportunities. Someone who has ADHD does not suffer the same analysis paralysis that others might when making decisions. They can just act!
People who have bi-polar disorder typically have high levels of ambition and strong willingness to persevere towards their goals and people who suffer from depression also possess an empathy and depth of understanding that outweighs those who do not.
Michael Freeman’s studies also uncovered that those entrepreneurs who suffered from mental illnesses tended to have an immediate family who also suffered from mental ill-health suggesting that traits that drive entrepreneurship and mental health disorders could be linked and inherited.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Entrepreneurs have a tendency towards mental illness and surround themselves in high stress isolated environment which can only worsen any mental state.
Now that we understand that this is the case, entrepreneurs must be encouraged to and celebrated when they discuss their mental health and take care of themselves first and foremost.
If you know an entrepreneur reach out and ask them how they feel and see if the could use any support.
If you are an entrepreneur take the time to check-in with yourself and realise that your business is only as strong as you are and if you don’t look after you first and fore-most then you are building an enterprise on quicksand.
If you don’t feel great just know that you can always talk:
https://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/need-help-now/
https://www.samaritans.org/ireland/branches/?circle%5Blocation%5D=tallaght
https://www.mhfaireland.ie/what-is-mental-health-first-aid
