TED Talks speaker Dr Rebecca Brachman on protecting mental health in a “high-stress startup”

With mental illness being “incredibly ubiquitous” among those building a startup or tech company, it’s likely people in your team are affected, according to neuroscientist and TED Talks speaker Dr Rebecca Brachman.

Speaking to Inc, Brachman says entrepreneurs should consider both their own mental health and that of each employee.

“If you are running a company (especially a high-stress startup), more likely than not, you, someone you work with, or someone who works for you is struggling with some form of mental illness,” she says.

“Which can impact both productivity and quality of life. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.”

As such, Brachman says watching for symptoms and seeking treatment early is critical.

“If you or one of your co-workers is experiencing symptoms of mental illness, it’s worth seeing a medical professional for two reasons: 1) though our current treatments aren’t ideal, the right treatment regimen and/or the right therapist can be life-changing, and 2) symptoms like anxiety and depression can have a lot of different causes, including thyroid disorders, that can often be treated once diagnosed,” she says. Read more

Dinushi Dias - Smart Company - 28 Apr 2017