Ironically, depression is more normal than people realize. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, one in 10 Canadians experiences depression at some point in their lives. Women are particularly vulnerable, suffering depression at twice the rate of men. We're not talking about a slight case of the blues, either. Key features include feelings of sadness and loss of interest in pleasure and normal activities.
Sufferers become overwhelmed with a sense of worthlessness.
Sleeping, eating and concentrating present unusual challenges. Bill Wilkerson, president of the Canadian Business and Economic Roundtable, believes entrepreneurs are among the highest-risk candidates for depression. Entrepreneurs, he says, are typically high achievers who overwork and tend to isolate themselves, traits that are known predictors of depression. What's more, the entrepreneurial personality often deters them from acknowledging personal problems and seeking help for them. Their job, their business, their very existence depends upon a healthy mental attitude.