Brazil study reveals mental‑health challenges among entrepreneurs

A new study by Endeavor Brazil and BID Lab, based on a survey of 118 startup founders, found that 94.1% of entrepreneurs have faced mental‑health difficulties. Anxiety was reported by 85.6% of respondents, followed by burnout (37%), panic attacks (22%) and depression (21%).

Data from Brazil's Ministry of Social Security show a record 472,328 mental‑disorder leave cases in 2024, the highest in the INSS’s history. Psychiatrist Dr. Beatriz Zaramella explained that early‑life stress can alter brain pathways that govern threat perception and emotional regulation, shaping how entrepreneurs react to business crises. She noted that intense reactions are not always signs of incompetence, and that over‑stressed leaders can transmit insecurity to their teams, influencing decision‑making and staff morale.