Entrepreneur Mental Health: The Crisis No One Talks About
Dr. Michael Freeman, a leading expert in entrepreneur mental health, has spent two decades studying something most people prefer
When we think of successful entrepreneurs, we picture confident leaders who’ve “made it” – the ones “crushing it” and “killing it” in their ventures. But beneath this glossy surface lies a troubling reality that’s only just beginning to get the attention it deserves.
Dr. Michael Freeman, a leading expert in entrepreneur mental health, has spent two decades studying something most people prefer not to discuss: the mental health challenges that come with building businesses. His findings paint a stark picture of a community in crisis.
The Research Findings
Freeman’s groundbreaking entrepreneur mental health research reveals that entrepreneurs face mental health challenges at rates far exceeding the general population. While about 30% of the general public experiences lifetime psychiatric conditions, that figure jumps to 38% among entrepreneurs.
But here’s where it gets more complex. Freeman discovered that 72% of entrepreneurs are affected by mental health issues – either directly or indirectly through close family members. This isn’t coincidence; it’s connected to the very traits that make someone entrepreneurial in the first place.
“Entrepreneurs live in this world of just a different mental health perspective,” Freeman explains in a recent podcast interview.
The Entrepreneur’s Brain: Different by Design
What makes someone willing to take the massive risks involved in starting a business? Freeman’s research suggests it comes down to a specific combination of personality traits and brain-based differences.
Entrepreneurs tend to share certain characteristics:
- Higher motivation and curiosity
- Greater extroversion and risk tolerance
- Enhanced creativity and open-mindedness
- Intense focus when pursuing goals
These aren’t learned behaviours – they’re largely inherited traits. As Freeman puts it: “People are born with the propensity for entrepreneurship.”
The Dark Side of These “Superpowers”
The same mental differences that drive entrepreneurial success can also create vulnerabilities in entrepreneur mental health. Freeman notes that entrepreneurs are more likely to experience certain conditions like ADHD, which affects about 29% of entrepreneurs compared to much lower rates in the general population.
Many entrepreneurs struggle with what Freeman calls “behavioral addictions” – becoming workaholics, serial company builders, or adrenaline junkies who can’t switch off. The intense focus that helps them build businesses can also lead to neglecting relationships and burning out.
Growing Up Different
For many entrepreneurs, entrepreneur mental health challenges start early. Freeman explains that children with ADHD – a common condition among future entrepreneurs – often grow up being criticised and shamed by educational systems that don’t understand their different way of thinking.
“Those kids grew up being criticised, being blamed, being embarrassed, being shamed, and by the time they get to be young adults, they already have low self-esteem,” Freeman observes.
The irony is striking: the same “disruptive” child who gets kicked out of class might later build a company and hire all the A-students who followed the rules. They’re still the same person, but now their disruptive nature is celebrated as innovation.
The Culture of “Crushing It”
This early experience of shame contributes to what Freeman sees as a problematic culture in entrepreneurship. Founders often project exaggerated success – everything is always “great” and they’re “knocking it out of the park.”
“There’s an exaggerated sense of success and enthusiasm that gets projected,” Freeman notes. “I feel like for many people, that’s covering over and filling this vacuum of low self-esteem.”
This culture makes it even harder for struggling entrepreneurs to admit when they need help.
Breaking the Stigma
Despite growing awareness of entrepreneur mental health issues, Freeman has encountered resistance when trying to implement practical support. While venture capitalists and accelerator leaders endorse the concept of mental wellness, translating this into action remains challenging.
The stigma isn’t just external – many entrepreneurs struggle with self-stigma and feelings of shame about their mental health differences.
A Different Perspective on Mental Health
Freeman advocates for reframing how we think about entrepreneur mental health differences. Rather than viewing them as illnesses to be hidden, he suggests seeing them as part of what makes entrepreneurs uniquely capable.
“We need to get away from labelling mental health differences in a negative way,” Freeman argues. “There are all different kinds of brains and they are all here for a reason.”
What This Means for the Entrepreneurship Community
The research therefore raises important questions about how we support entrepreneurs. In response to these challenges, Freeman operates a specialist entrepreneur mental health clinic two days a week, providing specialised care for founders who face unique pressures.
Crucially, the key insight from his work is that entrepreneurs aren’t just regular employees who happen to run businesses. On the contrary, they are wired differently, and as a result, they need support systems that fully understand these differences in entrepreneur mental health.
What Needs to Change
As Freeman continues his research and clinical work, one question resonates from his conversations with the entrepreneurship community: “Do you care about entrepreneurs as people?”
It’s a simple question that cuts to the heart of the issue. If we celebrate entrepreneurs for the value they create, shouldn’t we also care about their wellbeing as human beings?
The answer seems obvious, but Freeman’s research suggests we still have work to do in translating that care into meaningful action.
This article is based on insights from the podcast “Do you care about entrepreneurs as people?” featuring Dr. Michael Freeman, produced by The Future Farm. You can listen to the full episode here.
Dr. Freeman is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCSF and founder of Econa, a specialist entrepreneur mental health centre. For more information about Dr. Freeman’s work and research, visit his website or explore resources through Econa.
1 Comment
Almost killed myself working 100 hour weeks for 3 years. Nobody talks about this stuff