7 Mental Health tips for founders

by Gill Bell – HR | Leadership | DEI
posted 10/10/24

It can be a lonely life, being THE founder or co-founder. From the initial buzz of starting your dream project and the excitement of early success, followed by the harsh reality of investor expectations and mounting growth pains.

Your health and wellbeing is inevitably going to be linked to the pressures and performance of your business.

According to the Startup Snapshot

72% of founders report that entrepreneurship has impacted their mental health and 37% suffer from anxiety

But…

Only 23% have sought help or have seen a psychologist to discuss the issues facing them and 81% do not openly share their stress, fears, and challenges.

Mental health for founders

The mental health of a startup founder doesn’t just affect personal well-being; it can also lead to damaged relationships and poor decision-making, which in turn can jeopardise the success of the startup.

If you feel yourself battling the demons, working too long hours and withdrawing from the fun events in life, it’s time to pay attention.

Set Boundaries. Try to stick to sensible working hours for at least half the days in the week. Have one non-work-related social engagement per week.
Get Physical. Introduce some exercise every day, even just 10,000 steps is great. Clear your thoughts and enjoy those endorphins.
Take Control. Break down your list of problems into a list of things to achieve. Slowly tackle one at a time and you’ll start to feel you are in control of your achievements rather than your problems overwhelming you.
Stay healthy. The pub is not the place for brainstorming. Don’t rely on drinking, smoking and caffeine as your coping tools. Eat well and hydrate regularly to.
A problem shared. Seek out and network with people who have been where you are. Ideally join a group of founders/business owners who are experiencing the same things as you so you can share experiences and can support each other.
Delegate to experts. Source third party expert help for those areas that aren’t your strengths. Invest in external help to free you up to do what you do best and you’ll save headaches, time and money.
Get professional help. And if your mental health is prolonged and deteriorating, seek help from your GP or counsellor.

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Gill is an experienced HR and commercial leader and Executive Coach.

After holding senior HR roles at EMI and The Sanctuary Group, she transitioned into HR and Business Strategy consulting before joining Handle in 2012.

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