According to the National Institute Of Mental Health, 72% of entrepreneurs are directly or indirectly affected by mental health as compared to 48% of non-entrepreneurs. In an entrepreneur's life, multiple factors may be responsible for this, such as financial stress, difficult clients and stakeholders, time management issues, and human resources. Shifts in the economic landscape, such as rising competition, geopolitical conflicts, social unrest, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, have created significant challenges for entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.
With a passion for solving this problem, Farai Mhaka, a Zimbabwean-born Psychiatrist and Research Pharmacist, is deeply passionate about addressing mental health challenges, ones that often impact entrepreneurs. With a master's degree in pharmaceutics science from Rhodes University, Farai brings a wealth of expertise to his work. As the co-author of Prescription Drug Misuse and Prevention in Sub-Saharan Africa, he not only highlights critical issues but also offers practical solutions to tackle them, aiming to create healthier, more resilient communities.
Having a background in working as a pharmacist at a psychiatric hospital encouraged him to discuss the use and misuse of substances in the book, bringing an innovative approach to improve pharmacotherapeutic treatments and stepping ahead in designing preventive remedies for substance abuse. His methodology revolves around a comprehensive Pharmaceutical Care Centered Approach. The process included an assessment, a care plan, and continual evaluation. The main goal of Farai's research is that he wants to escalate access for the millions of Americans living with mental health issues to get cost-effective psychotropic medication and improve the results of therapies that can significantly impact their quality of life.
Farai Mhaka thinks that entrepreneurs can benefit if they get in-depth access to mental health. For him, one apple can spoil the entire bunch. The researcher believes that a person's wrong way of managing or displaying a negative code of conduct can result in the whole team landing in hot waters. When we say mental health, it can refer to an individual's emotional and psychological state and mental well-being. The mental being element helps in determining how well they can resolve problems, handle stress, work under pressure, learn from other partners, identify their strengths or weaknesses, and make decisions.
When entrepreneurs have access to mental health support, the positive impact is clear for everyone to see. Not only does it help reduce the strain on the economy, but it also empowers founders to thrive alongside like-minded entrepreneurs. With a healthy mind, they can manage their businesses more effectively -- bringing their vision to life through thoughtful planning, execution, and ongoing evaluation. It's a win-win that benefits both the individual and the larger community.
Their mental well-being motivates them to concentrate and focus on their venture's mission, vision, and goals, as well as deal with stress. If they remain unwell, then there will be less effort, productivity, failure in coping with the market, loss of golden opportunities for business, experience bankruptcy, and no optimum growth.
The book's author shared that Americans can benefit economically if they work on their mental health. It will be evident in their planning, which will open doors for Americans to apply for employment and lead to boosted productivity, improved profits, and innovative ideas. Out-of-the-box products or services will elevate the American lifestyle, and a bigger platform will be laid to share valuable feedback and strengthen interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships.
Mhaka highlights that entrepreneurs often face unique mental health challenges due to the intense stress of building their businesses. If these issues aren't properly addressed, the consequences can be significant. Some may rely heavily on medications like opiates, antidepressants, or stimulants to cope and, in more severe cases, turn to illicit substances. This not only puts their health and relationships at risk but can also jeopardize their business, leading to financial losses that shake the very foundation of their company. Taking proactive steps to support mental well-being is key to avoiding these pitfalls and ensuring both personal and professional success.
Farai encourages entrepreneurs to come out of the stigma and admit that they are suffering from mental health illness. He elaborated, "We live in a society where mental health and/or substance abuse is associated with stigma. More often than not people choose not to deal with mental health and/ or substance abuse. I would advise that if there are any entrepreneurs suffering from health and/ or substance abuse to first admit that they need help to manage it. They need to seek either pharmacological treatment or non-pharmacological preventative measures."
Non-pharmacological measures are about having a good support group that supports such entrepreneurs, such as being part of a social network and interacting with business owners who can relate to their tough journey. Apart from this, they can go for dancing, music therapy, gym, or aromatherapy. He quotes Noam Shpancer: "Mental health is not a destination but a process; it's about how you drive, not where you're going."
He said that in his book, he discussed how the introduction of such drugs to Africa increased the availability and misuse of psychoactive substances, particularly among young adults and adolescents. The three most commonly misused drugs are stimulants (methamphetamine), opioids (codeine, tramadol), and central nervous system antidepressants (Benzodiazepines, sleeping pills).
Mhaka concluded by sharing that mental health is not something we can afford to overlook. For entrepreneurs, it's especially critical to nurture a healthy mind to stay focused on their goals. By staying grounded and taking care of their mental well-being, they can bring their vision, mission, and strategies to life every day. This not only drives their success but also fuels innovation and resilience in America, contributing to a stronger, healthier economy and community.