Erwan Derlyn - Startup culture and mental health
Hello, everyone! I hope you all had a joyful Christmas and a great start to 2022. This time of the year, we tend to reflect on the past and make plans for the future. We are often naive to the notion that growth comes at a cost, whether it's personal resolutions or strategic planning. But growth is always a delicate balancing act full of compromises, trade-offs, and collaterals. So, for my first post of the year, I'd like to discuss an aspect of growth that is all too frequently overlooked: mental health. Since I'm not an expert, I invited a licensed psychologist to answer some questions. We covered mental health issues affecting startup founders, as well as how to build a healthy culture and new year resolutions, myths, and trends. Victoria Trepp is a clinical psychologist who works as the Chief Psychologist at Mindler. Mindler is an online psychologist service with more than 300 psychologists in Sweden, the UK, France, and the Netherlands. E: Several studies have shown that entrepreneurs are more likely to suffer from mental health issues than the general population. In your experience, what are the main factors that make startup founders more vulnerable to these problems?
E: Building a startup is definitely a rollercoaster experience for all involved. As leaders, what indicators should founders look for to ensure team members are well? What tools can be used to measure emotional well-being?
E: I couldn't agree with you more, proactivity is crucial. I actually often say that the best tools for marketers are their eyes and ears as well. Historically, the so-called “hustle culture” (a workaholic lifestyle) has been prevalent in the tech industry, though it has proven to be counterproductive. How can startup founders instill a positive mental health culture from day one? As companies finalize their budgets for 2022, is mental health something they should budget for?
E: I can totally relate to that. That’s something I personally struggled with when I started consulting as I found myself on the verge of burnout. It's easy to get caught up in something you're passionate about, to be always on, and to say yes to too many things. Even as a “company of one” I’m now very careful to schedule time to unwind and am very selective about what I accept. The new year is synonymous with resolutions. What are some simple but sustainable actions individuals can take in 2022 to prevent mental health issues?
E: I really enjoyed the book Why We Sleep on the topic. And I love that you mention genuine acts of kindness as a stimulant, fascinating! As a psychologist, you probably hear tons of myths and bad advice. What should people ignore?
E: I have definitely said "It's gonna be fine, don´t worry!" way too often in the past and I will start changing that straight away, thank you. For the last question, let’s look ahead. In the next five to ten years, what trends do you see emerging that might have a positive or negative impact on mental health?
E: Indeed, no one is immune to mental illness, and it needs to be discussed and supported more openly. Interesting take on social media. Deleting my private Instagram a few years ago is actually one of the best things I have done. But with so many discussions about the Metaverse and Web3, I believe that people will be spending more and more time online. That excites and worries me in equal measure. Time will tell. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your expertise, Victoria. This discussion taught me a lot, and I hope it was a worthwhile read for all of you. You can connect with Victoria on LinkedIn and learn more about Mindler here. Wishing you a happy and healthy start to 2022!
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