Behind the image of entrepreneurs admired for their audacity and their achievements are often hidden businessmen and women whose mental health is fragile. And a professor of occupational psychology from UQAC is in turn sounding the alarm.
Called to comment on the results of studies published in the book “What if entrepreneurship made you crazy? When genius and vulnerability coexist,” Félix A. Proulx described them as disturbing.
According to authors Dominic Gagnon and Isabelle Naessens, there are twice as many depressions among entrepreneurs, three times more alcohol dependence and three times more psychiatric hospitalizations than among the general population. Suicide is said to be the second leading cause of death among entrepreneurs, just after heart attacks.
“This is an alarming observation,” underlines the teacher who is also a psychologist. There are also statistics like that on the costs for society. Being an entrepreneur comes with a lot of responsibilities, it is demanding work that has an impact on psychological and physical health. »
However, we must avoid generalizing, according to him, because there is a lot of variability in the business world. “It really depends on the type of business, industry and information about the entrepreneur. Some are alone, while others rely on a small or large team. And they are not all surrounded and prepared in the same way during their journeys. These are issues and it is relevant to go in depth. »
The teacher adds that it is therefore necessary to analyze specific cases, the type of industry and the environment to discover nuances.
Risk factors
“We need to better understand the phenomenon and look at the processes of health deterioration, to see if there are greater risk factors for professional burnout, including depression and anxiety. »
Félix A. Proulx did his doctoral thesis on mental health focusing on the construction field. He used a model according to which there are positive and negative characteristics which could be extended to other sectors of activity.
“Entrepreneurs manage resources and demands, which puts pressure on individuals. Having resources allows you to protect yourself. If I have demands, but I have the resources, I will not burn out professionally. If there is no balance, there are consequences. »
Research that is progressing
Research on the mental health of entrepreneurs is progressing in his opinion, but we will still have to wait a few years to have an overall picture of the situation. “The current studies are interesting, but we need to go further to better understand what is happening. »
Meanwhile, the professor believes that businessmen and women in difficulty do not have enough help. “Even outside of entrepreneurship, having access to mental health care is not a service accessible to everyone. When you have good insurance, you can have access to psychotherapy. When you’re on the verge of drowning and you don’t have the means, it’s not your priority. »
