"Entrepreneurial mental health" is kind of an oxymoron, no? Anecdotal and empirical evidence shows entrepreneurs are more vulnerable to mental illness, mental health challenges, and burnout. Why? First, because the same roots of trauma that are responsible for depression, anxiety, addiction, and other mental disorders tend to also be responsible for entrepreneurially conducive traits such as independence, creativity, charisma, and perseverance. And second, because the emotional isolation, unrelenting pressure, and growth-at-all-costs lifestyle frequently result in founders having to choose one: success, or their mental health.
This session will explore whether mental health and entrepreneurship can coexist, and if so, which variables need to be present to keep your sh*t together.