Dr Leigh A Neal, Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Director at Smart TMS in London, has had an article published in BusinessAdvice.co.uk, a website dedicated to the micro companies sector of business.
Dr Neal’s article outlines the importance of a ‘healthy mind’ for startup businesses and provides advice on introducing wellbeing activities as well as normalising conversation about mental health and depression.
Starting a new company or working in an early-stage business can be very rewarding and exciting, providing plenty of variety and stimulation. However, it can also be very tiring and stressful.
In his article ‘A healthy mind is crucial for early-stage business success‘, Dr Neal explains:
“I work with people dealing with mental health issues on a daily basis. Many of them don’t identify as struggling with depression or anxiety, but instead describe a vague sense of malaise or mental fatigue.
“Thanks to the stresses and pressures of starting a business, entrepreneurs and early-stage business employees could be particularly susceptible. Researchers have found that a staggering 72% of entrepreneurs are having mental health concerns.
“When you think about it, that’s not particularly surprising. Work-related stress is the most common form of stress in the UK today. Working in a startup isn’t just a 9 to 5 job anymore, it’s much more all consuming than that. There may be large expanses of time in which finances are under strain and the future of the business looks uncertain. The pressure, particularly for the owners, can be immense.”
Owners of young businesses often find that as well as long working days, technology means they never quite switch off even at home. The intensity of work can also be quite isolating socially.
Mental Health Advice for Young Businesses
Dr Leigh Neal’s suggestion for entrepreneurs and new businesses:
“If you’re looking for long-term business success beyond the startup phase, you cannot afford to allow mental illness, exhaustion or burnout to become recurring problems in your workforce.
“Pay attention to your mental wellbeing and that of your employees and act early. Set clear and defined ‘down hours’ when you do not expect anyone to be contactable or on email.
“Introduce activities and normalise conversations around mental health. Allow employees to express how they feel and to speak up when they’re in need of a break.
“If stress, anxiety or depression become longer-term problems for you or your business, look at higher level solutions. This doesn’t have to entail lengthy courses of antidepressant medication or time consuming psychological treatment.
“Whatever method you choose, be sure to take action against mental health issues as soon as they occur. Tackling stress head on could save you and your business a huge amount of heartache (and money) in the long-term.”
Read full article:
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A healthy mind is crucial for early-stage business success
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DR LEIGH A NEAL MD FRCPSYCH
Dr Leigh A Neal is a consultant psychiatrist and Medical Director of Smart TMS, a London-based clinic offering Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation – a non-medication-based mental health treatment.
He has been a Consultant Psychiatrist for over 20 years with a career including work within the Armed Forces, NHS and Independent Sector.
SMART TMS CLINICS
Smart TMS is a specialist provider of TMS treatment in London. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation therapy (rTMS) is a technological breakthrough in the treatment of depression with a variety of further potential treatment applications.
Smart TMS is located within The Smart Clinics in South Kensington/Brompton Cross.
CONTACT US
For any queries or to book an appointment, please contact us:
Tel: 0345 222 5678
Email: info@smarttms.co.uk