Entrepreneurs Speak Out on Mental Health Challenges

On Tuesday, Nicolas Duvernois, an entrepreneur and frequent contributor to Les Affaires, shared an insight into his personal struggles with fatigue and mental health. In a candid column, Duvernois expressed, “Despite the love and passion I feel for my business, various projects, and commitments, I am tired. I’m not talking about a temporary fatigue that requires a few days of rest; I’m referring to a persistent fatigue that follows me like a shadow, engulfing me. It hurts.”

The timing of Duvernois’s revelation coincides with World Mental Health Day on October 10, a date recognized for drawing attention to mental health issues. Duvernois is not alone in speaking out; he is joined by other entrepreneurs who have started to dismantle the stigma around mental health challenges in their field. Last spring, Dominic Gagnon, the president and founder of Connect&GO, stood out in the headlines of Les Affaires with his message on mental health.

Gagnon, author of the book Et si l’entrepreneuriat rendait fou? (What if Entrepreneurship Drives You Crazy?), emphasized the importance of addressing this often-neglected issue, aiming to debunk the myth of the entrepreneur as a hero who solves every problem. “I don’t know if I became crazy being an entrepreneur or became an entrepreneur because I’m crazy,” he half-jokingly remarked to journalist Emmanuel Martinez. “I believe there is a bit of both, considering the low survival rate of businesses and the lower earnings.”

In June, another entrepreneur, Pascal Lépine, founder of the communication and marketing agency Atypic, also shared his story. Lépine recounted a deeply personal experience, “To this day, I still don’t know where I found the strength to wake my mother to confess the act I was about to commit. My mother listened with utmost humanity and unconditional love, never showing that my homosexuality and dark thoughts were burdens for her. That night, my mother saved me.”

The narratives of Dominic Gagnon, Pascal Lépine, and Nicolas Duvernois, along with eight other leaders in 2022, have captured public attention. These entrepreneurs have courageously shared some of the darkest chapters of their personal and professional lives. Les Affaires has revisited these individuals to discover how their disclosures were received by their circles and what lessons they have drawn from their experiences.

Those in need of assistance or concerned for someone else have access to resources across Quebec available 24/7. The contact number is 1 866 APPELLE (277-3553) or via text at 535 353.