Mental and physical health issues continue to have a severe impact in our society.  I am glad that it has finally started its ascent out of being a taboo topic, but we have a long way to go before it is more accepted to talk about in public, especially in entrepreneurial circles.

In the last fifteen years I have consulted with and mentored close to a thousand entrepreneurs and business owners. During that time, I have repeatedly seen evidence that this epidemic is especially prevalent among entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, most often the issue is shrugged aside, or stigmatised by our culture as a sign of being weak.

Let me be clear about one thing. Starting up and running your own business, is hard. Damn hard. Among other factors, the stress and long hours involved will have an impact on the mental, emotional and physical well-being of anyone brave enough to venture out on their own.

Entrepreneurs are critical to the success of any economic development. They are our last line of defence when a recession hits, and a major driver of innovation in any market. To put it lightly – fostering a great environment for entrepreneurs to thrive in, is a necessity. Part of that responsibility, is making sure that we speak up with regards to health-related issues.

According to research done by Michael Freeman with the University of San Francisco, the numbers detailing the frequency of mental health issues among entrepreneurs, are nothing short of staggering.