For real? 49% of entrepreneurs surveyed have a mental health condition

I read a story about an entrepreneur who committed suicide and was saddened by it. What alarmed me however were these numbers:

Of the 242 entrepreneurs he surveyed, 49% reported having a mental-health condition. Depression was the No. 1 reported condition among them and was present in 30% of all entrepreneurs, followed by ADHD (29%) and anxiety problems (27%).

That’s a much higher percentage than the US population at large, where only about 7% identify as depressed.

So I looked into the study that was quoted and I sketched out some quick thoughts:

• The study has its limitations, so it’s best to not see this as definitive. But it’s a good basis for further research.
• That said, it does seem entrepreneurs are more likely to have depression, ADHD, and anxiety.
• What’s really interesting is that that the entrepreneurs’ relatives are more likely to have these conditions than relatives of non-entrepreneurs!

It’s an intriguing result. One thing the study pointed out was that these conditions are not always negative: ADHD can be a great entrepreneurial trait. They might also be sides of the same coin: creative types are probably more likely to suffer from depression.

Also there’s the question of nature versus nurture: are entrepreneurs depressed because of their work? Or are people who are more likely to be depressed also more likely to be entrepreneurs? Perhaps it’s a mutually reinforcing vicious cycle?

The link with family is interesting. Perhaps certain family environments lead to more entrepreneurial folks? Or perhaps it’s genetic in some way?

It’s an important area of research I think. Hopefully all these can lead to better treatment and outcomes for entrepreneurs.