The Silent Crisis
- Sonia Brown MBE
- Mar 21
- 11 min read
The Rise of Entrepreneurial Mental Health Struggles in a Post-Pandemic World
Entrepreneurship has long been glorified as a heroic journey—grit, hustle, sleepless nights and the relentless pursuit of success. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, filled with extreme highs and devastating lows, as business owners shoulder the weight of financial uncertainty, team responsibility and personal sacrifices. Entrepreneurs celebrate the triumphs, the viral success stories, the “started in a garage” narratives.
But what if true success isn’t just measured in revenue, but in something far more fragile—mental well-being?
Brad Feld, co-founder of Foundry Group, puts it bluntly:
“It’s not a topic the start-up community understands well. After all, this is the very culture that turned the chestnut ‘pick yourself up by your bootstraps’ into a much-celebrated verb. Admitting you struggle with depression is like admitting you can’t reach your bootstraps. It’s assumed that successful people can just ‘shake it off.’”
He continues:
"But that’s not how it works […] Depression carries a stigma. Most of the success stories we hear involve an entrepreneur who pushes themselves beyond their physical and emotional limits. They’re unbalanced—but in a ‘good’ way.”
Yet, research tells a different story.
Dr. Michael Freeman, a clinical professor and entrepreneur, conducted a survey of 242 entrepreneurs to assess mental health conditions within the start up community. The results were stark:
49% reported having a diagnosed mental health condition.
30% reported depression, making it the most common condition.
29% identified with ADHD.
27% struggled with anxiety.
These numbers stand in stark contrast to the general U.S. population, where only 7% are diagnosed with depression. This means entrepreneurs are over four times more likely to experience depression—yet, in many circles, the conversation around mental health remains taboo.
One thing is certain: the highs and lows of entrepreneurship are relentless. It is not for the faint of heart and without prioritising mental resilience, even the most successful leaders can find themselves on the brink of burnout. The question is—how do we redefine success to include well-being, not just wealth?
The Silent Crisis: The Rise of Entrepreneurial Mental Health Struggles in a Post-Pandemic World
Entrepreneurship has long been revered as the modern-day hero’s journey—marked by grit, late nights, sacrifice, and hustle. In Western culture, influenced by Stoic thinkers like Marcus Aurelius and modern business titans, we’re conditioned to believe that struggle is not only necessary, but noble. We idolise the founder who works 18-hour days, the CEO who sleeps under their desk, and the myth of “making it” by burning out.
But as Søren Kierkegaard, the father of existentialism, warned:
“Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom.”
The very autonomy that makes entrepreneurship exhilarating is also what makes it psychologically exhausting. You are the strategist, executor, problem-solver, investor, and visionary—often all at once. The highs are stratospheric. The lows? Utterly isolating.
Why Entrepreneurs Are Wired for Mental Health Struggles
Neuroscientists have long studied the impact of prolonged stress on the human brain, and entrepreneurship offers a near-perfect case study: cognitive overload, chronic uncertainty, and decision fatigue. The stakes are high. The lines between work and personal life blur, and success becomes indistinguishable from self-worth.
Dr. Robert Sapolsky, a Stanford neuroscientist and author of Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst, explains that prolonged, unpredictable stress triggers continuous cortisol release in the brain. While most professionals clock out, entrepreneurs live inside their business. There is no “off” switch.
“Running a start-up is like chewing glass and staring into the abyss. After a while, you stop staring, but the glass chewing never ends.” – Elon Musk
This is not exaggeration—it’s science. A Harvard Business Review study found that entrepreneurs are 50% more likely to report having a mental health condition. Depression, anxiety, ADHD, and burnout are not anomalies in entrepreneurship—they are alarmingly common. And yet, we rarely talk about it.
When Leadership Breaks You Open : Oprah's Story
Even the most powerful and purpose-driven leaders are not immune. When Oprah Winfrey launched the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) in South Africa, it was a dream rooted in transformation and legacy. But when abuse allegations emerged from within the school, the emotional toll on Oprah was profound.
“It was the most devastating experience of my life... I felt like I failed the girls.” – Oprah Winfrey
In a leadership culture that often masks pain behind poise, Oprah's honesty was ground-breaking. She flew to South Africa, addressed the crisis head-on and offered therapy to every affected student. She later shared how the experience forced her to rebuild—not just the institution, but herself.
At a Stanford commencement speech, she reflected:
“I had to rebuild from the inside out. I learned that intention and integrity must lead the way.”
Her journey reminds us that true leadership requires emotional resilience, not emotional suppression. It also highlights something critical: you can’t lead others effectively if you’re disconnected from yourself.
So Why Aren’t We Talking About This More?
Because vulnerability is still perceived as weakness. Because high-achievers are expected to “power through.” Because the systems around us still reward output over well-being. But what if we redefined success—not as revenue, accolades, or exits, but as sustainability, inner peace, and a life aligned with purpose?
Mental health isn’t a sidebar to entrepreneurship—it’s the core foundation.
And until we normalise this conversation, too many will continue to suffer in silence, behind perfectly curated images of “success.”
Why Entrepreneurs Are Wired for Mental Health Struggles
Neuroscientists have long studied the brain under stress and entrepreneurship provides a near-perfect case study of cognitive overload, chronic uncertainty and decision fatigue.
Dr. Robert Sapolsky, a Stanford neuroscientist and author of Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst, explains that stress—especially prolonged, unpredictable stress—creates a constant flood of cortisol in the brain. Unlike a 9-to-5 worker who has clear boundaries between professional and personal life, an entrepreneur’s work is their identity, their future, their livelihood. The pressure never stops.
This isn’t just anecdotal. Research published in the Harvard Business Review found that entrepreneurs are 50% more likely to report a mental health condition than the general population. Elon Musk, Steve Jobs and Howard Schultz have all spoken openly about the depression, anxiety and self-doubt that accompanied their rise to success.
So why aren’t we talking about this more?
From Philosophy to the Boardroom: Why Society Rewards the "Struggle Narrative"
Western culture, influenced heavily by Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and modern-day business moguls, romanticises struggle. We tell ourselves that pain is necessary for greatness. We idolise the CEO who “sleeps under his desk” and the start up founder who works 18-hour days.
Yet, as Søren Kierkegaard, the father of existentialism, once warned,
"Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom."
The very autonomy that makes entrepreneurship exhilarating is also what makes it psychologically exhausting.
How it Shows Up
For many female business owners, the narrative is clear—and confining: be strong, be tough, be unshakable! It’s a singular image of success, shaped by outdated ideals that rarely reflect the emotional complexity of leadership.
And yet, we continue to measure ourselves against this impossible standard. No wonder so many women are quietly buckling under the pressure.
To break free from this entrenched ideal, we must reframe what successful leadership looks like. That starts with amplifying diverse voices, embracing vulnerability, and highlighting stories that reflect a multiplicity of experiences. Women should feel empowered to lead authentically, not by mimicking rigidity, but by redefining strength through balance, compassion and honesty.
Our mental well-being is just as vital as the bottom line. And yet, when we struggle—especially if we come from families or communities where mental health challenges were shrouded in silence—we retreat, we hide, we keep going until we collapse! It’s time to remove the shame. More people than you think are suffering in silence, hiding behind the façade of “doing just fine.”
Mental health awareness begins with naming the stigma and replacing it with understanding. You don’t need a clinical diagnosis to be impacted. For many entrepreneurs, the signs emerge slowly, camouflaged as the normal cost of doing business:
Anxiety disguised as “drive” – Constant worry about what’s next, running from fire to fire without rest.
Burnout disguised as “work ethic” – Pushing through exhaustion like rest is a reward, not a right.
Imposter syndrome disguised as “humility” – Dismissing your wins, doubting your worth, fearing you’ll be “found out.”
Isolation disguised as “focus” – Working alone, disconnected from meaningful relationships, forgetting you're not meant to do this alone.
Sound familiar? It’s not just you—and it’s not just part of the job.
As actress Kerry Washington so beautifully put it:
“I say that publicly because I think it’s really important to take the stigma away from mental health… My brain and my heart are really important to me. I don’t know why I wouldn’t seek help to have those things be as healthy as my teeth. I go to the dentist. So why wouldn’t I go to a shrink?”
Let’s start treating our minds with the same care and urgency we give to our bottom lines. Success doesn’t require silence. It requires support, self-awareness, and space to breathe.
Breaking the Silence
“It is okay to have depression, it is okay to have anxiety, and it is okay to have an adjustment disorder. We need to improve the conversation. We all have mental health in the same way we all have physical health.” — Prince Harry
We live in a culture that still rewards exhaustion over wellbeing. In the entrepreneurial world—especially for women—this is amplified. The unspoken rule? Keep pushing. Don’t complain. Be strong. Be grateful. Be relentless. But at what cost?
This mindset isn’t just unsustainable—it’s dangerous. Behind the headlines of funding rounds, fast growth and polished success lies a silent epidemic: chronic stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression. Research from the World Health Organisation estimates that depression and anxiety cost the global economy over $1 trillion each year in lost productivity.
A recent Gallup poll also found that burned-out employees are 63% more likely to take sick days and 23% more likely to visit the emergency room. Entrepreneurs, who often operate without sick leave, benefits, or a backup team, carry that cost in silence.
The glorification of overwork, combined with gendered expectations of stoicism and self-sacrifice, leaves women founders especially vulnerable. As we’ve seen through the stories of leaders like Oprah Winfrey and Kerry Washington, success and struggle are not mutually exclusive—but ignoring the latter only perpetuates harm. Neuroscientists like Dr. Robert Sapolsky and Dr. Andrew Huberman have shown how prolonged stress alters brain chemistry, depleting our ability to focus, regulate emotion, and experience joy. And still, we press on.
But this isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a leadership imperative. If we want sustainable success, we must start treating mental wellbeing as a business priority, not a personal problem. We must challenge the myth that burnout is a rite of passage and instead build cultures—internally and collectively—where rest, reflection, and support are seen as strategic tools for long-term impact.
So if you’re wondering how to begin...
Here’s what you can do right now.
The Future of Entrepreneurship
The pandemic was a wake-up call. Mental health isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. If we want sustainable success, we need to redefine what winning looks like.
It’s not the entrepreneur who works the longest hours. It’s not the CEO who sacrifices everything for profit. It’s not the founder who grinds until they collapse.
True success belongs to those who can build without breaking, grow without burning out and lead without losing themselves.
What’s the solution? Surprisingly, the answers don’t lie in radical shifts, but in small, intentional changes.
1️. Set Boundaries Like a CEO, Not an Employee
For many professionals—especially women—boundaries can feel like a luxury rather than a necessity. We’ve been conditioned to believe that being constantly available proves our worth. But here’s the truth: availability is not a measure of commitment; it’s often a sign of burnout waiting to happen. Whether you’re leading a company or contributing within one, your time is a limited resource. The way you protect it will determine not only your productivity but your longevity.
Dr. Anne Welsh, clinical psychologist and executive coach, reframes rest as a strategic asset. “Rest,” she says, “is a productivity tool, not a weakness.” The most successful CEOs aren’t the ones working the most hours—they’re the ones who know where to direct their energy. By treating boundaries as non-negotiable, you gain back mental clarity, reduce decision fatigue, and create space for strategic thinking.
Start by defining your "off hours"—and respecting them. Designate areas in your home or work where you do not allow business to intrude. Schedule personal time as you would a key investor meeting—and honour it. These aren’t indulgences. They are essentials for your mind, your body, and your long-term business health.
2️. Rewire Your Brain with Mindfulness and Dopamine Resets
Success feels good—until it doesn’t. If you've ever reached a goal only to feel an immediate emptiness or a compulsion to chase the next one, you're not alone. High achievers often experience what neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman calls “dopamine burnout.” This happens when the brain becomes so used to high-stimulation, high-pressure environments that it loses the ability to find joy in the present moment or in smaller, quieter wins.
This is not just about feeling "off." It's about how the brain gets trained to seek constant intensity—leading to exhaustion, irritability, and disconnection from purpose. For entrepreneurs, leaders, and even top-performing employees, this constant pursuit without pause rewires the nervous system for stress, not sustainability.
To counteract this, start with simple but powerful practices. Try a “dopamine fast”—a short, regular break from screens, stimulation, and multitasking. Even an hour away from your phone can reset your brain’s reward system. Practice five minutes of deep, intentional breathing each day—just five minutes can significantly reduce cortisol levels. Most importantly, begin to celebrate small wins. Recognising incremental progress—not just outcomes—teaches the brain to find satisfaction in the journey, not just the result.
3️. Build a Support Network—Before You Need One
One of the most persistent myths in leadership and entrepreneurship is that we have to go it alone. But solitude often breeds burnout, not brilliance. In fact, one of the most striking findings from the Founder Reports study revealed that female entrepreneurs with support systems reported significantly lower levels of burnout and depression than those without. The same applies in the workplace: connection buffers stress.
Why? Because isolation—especially when it’s masked as focus or independence—is a silent stressor. Without people who truly understand your journey, setbacks feel heavier, and imposter syndrome grows louder. It’s not about having dozens of friends—it’s about having the right people in your corner who can offer guidance, perspective, or simply hold space when things feel hard.
So don’t wait for a breakdown to seek support. Be proactive. Join a mastermind group or a peer circle. Connect with people who are walking similar paths. Find a therapist, coach, or mentor who can support both your goals and your well-being. And when you're struggling, speak up. Vulnerability is not the opposite of strength—it is strength in action.
Reclaiming Resilience in Leadership and Life
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to burnout, emotional exhaustion, or the complex mental load that comes with building a business or advancing a career. Whether you're leading a company, launching a start-up, or navigating senior leadership within an organisation, the emotional toll is real—and too often ignored. But here’s the truth:
mental health is not a luxury. It is a leadership imperative.
We must dismantle the myth that constant hustle, silence and self-sacrifice are markers of success. The research is clear—unmanaged stress, unchecked pressure and a lack of emotional support can lead to serious consequences for both personal health and professional performance. Burnout costs businesses billions in lost productivity each year. It diminishes creativity, clouds decision-making and slowly erodes the drive that once fuelled our ambition.
Yet within this challenge lies a powerful opportunity: to reframe what success looks like and embrace small, intentional changes that preserve our energy, sharpen our focus, and protect our well-being. Setting boundaries like a CEO, rewiring our brains with rest and mindfulness, and building support systems before we desperately need them—these aren’t radical interventions. They’re foundational strategies for sustainable leadership.
And this isn’t just about founders or executives.
These shifts matter whether you’re managing a team, preparing for promotion, or simply figuring out what comes next. They apply across industries, career stages and personal journeys. Because what we need now—more than ever—is a leadership culture rooted in clarity, empathy and resilience.
The ultimate ROI isn’t just revenue or recognition. It’s the ability to lead with strength, purpose, and sustainability—without losing yourself in the process.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
If anything you’ve read here resonates—if you’re struggling in silence, craving clarity, or simply ready to shift how you show up in your business or career—know this: you are not alone. There is help. Sometimes that means speaking to a qualified mental health professional who can guide you through the deeper work of healing and rebuilding. And sometimes, it means surrounding yourself with people who truly get it.
At NBWN, we’ve created a safe, empowering space through our Peer Support Group, designed for women leaders and entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of leadership, mental wellbeing, and professional growth. Whether you need support, strategy, or simply to be seen—we’re here for you.
Connect with us. Let’s build resilience together.
We’d love to hear from you—what’s one change you’ll make this week to prioritise your mental wellbeing or leadership resilience? Share your thoughts below.
If this spoke to you, tag a fellow leader, entrepreneur, or colleague who needs this reminder today.
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