Invisible struggles: Why entrepreneur mental health deserves urgent attention in South Africa

SOUTH Africa has made strides in advancing mental health awareness, with government, schools, corporate wellness programmes, civil society organizations/ and NGOs have made it a national priority.

- NOBESUTHU NDLOVU

However, South Africa's entrepreneurial community remain unsupported. Entrepreneurs bear disproportionate emotional burdens.

For instance, a 2015 Berkeley University study found that 72 % of entrepreneurs reported experiencing mental health challenges, nearly half had formally diagnosed conditions like depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, or substance-related issues.

Meanwhile, there is no recent South African data that speaks to the invisible struggles entrepreneurs face and how these conditions, amplify stress, isolation and burnout.

The 2025 South African MSME Access to Finance Report reveals that micro-enterprises businesses with turnovers under R1 million generate over 80% of MSME jobs and account for nearly 86 % of funding requests yet face systemic rejection due to outdated credit models and poor financial documentation. Nearly 39 % of these businesses seek small loans under R250 000 and another 31% ask for between R250 000 and R1 million modest sums that are crucial for survival but frequently denied. Yet amidst these challenges, have we stopped to ask ourselves what support this vital community needs in support to wake up and face another day?