Founders, Executives and Suicide
Posted on April 03, 2013 by Kim Fuller, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Start-ups are a full-contact sport. Start-ups and founders have exceptional pressure -- often on the brink of making it big, or loosing everything!
Silicon Beach is mourning the death of entrepreneur and Ecomom co-founder Jody Sherman this week. Sherman, 47, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials said. The question is, what are the best techniques for dealing with sustained and extreme pressure as a founder?
Answer:
In order to address this compound question it is important to notice how quickly we jump to conclusions. Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death for all U.S. men according to National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. The fact that Jody Sherman was an entrepreneur may have compounded his emotional issues and stressors, but it did not start there. Social pressures, family struggles, unemployment, financial strain, body chemistry, hormones and most importantly romantic relationship challenges are some of the risk factors associated with suicide in men, especially when a number of these problems converge.
Until recently, the Prevention of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs stated “Men in the overall U.S. population just haven’t been the focus of a lot of suicide-prevention efforts. We are now seeing billboards and public service announcements that are targeting suicide prevention across all ages and genders, specifically men.
How do we help provide information to prevent these tragedies? There is a new campaign out entitled Know the Signs; ‘Know the Signs, Find the Words, Reach out.’ www.suicideispreventable.org. This campaign is broken down into the three parts to help you intervene at any stage to prevent suicide. This campaign encourages you to notice changes in the behavior around us; increased reckless behavior, increased alcohol or drug consumption, significant changes in mood, lack of energy, avoiding activities that used to be enjoyable, social isolation. You can start the conversation by voicing concern for observed changes; don’t be afraid to say the word suicide. Recommend seeking additional support. Help find professionals who can walk you through the process. There are resources online that provide intervention services, such as ,www.befrienders.org)
Significant changes in life circumstances can add stress to already difficult social and emotional challenges. Becoming involved in risk related business strategies, especially in this highly competitive, rapidly changing market can exacerbate fears, magnify insecurities and promote emotional ups and downs. This affects us most critically when we judge ourselves from the outside-in. Coaching, psychotherapy, support groups and natural supports can help shift external pressure to internal satisfaction. Success is often celebrated as defined by the media, but a coach can help you identify your own markers of success which may include intangibles like risk taking, creativity, fearlessness, and balance rather than mass motivated and marketed symbols of power and wealth. If you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed about work, social life, family; reach out for help. There is safety in numbers. We rarely have simple answers to suicide, but talking about it and seeking formal or informal supports when needed will help reduce the risk, not only for yourself, but others.
Interventions:
Learn to identify when stress is impacting your functioning use rating system 0- 10 and keep track of patterns Identify support systems where you feel heard these could include family, friends, co-worker, clergy, coach Reach out to those people who are supportive set up appointments, make dates with friends and co-workers Uncover activities that allow you opportunity to burn off excess energy sports, martial arts*co author – Terri Morgan
