Mental Health & Burnout Prevention For CEOs - A Holistic Approach
By Corina Zanner-Entwistle
Mental ill health represents the most significant cause of lost working days in Great Britain and globally, with stress, depression, and anxiety accounting for approximately 15.4 million lost days in the UK alone. This results in an estimated annual cost to UK employers of £65 billion due to mental ill health (up from £45 billion in 2019 - Deloitte).
In today's climate, CEOs face unprecedented levels of stress.
Modern-day stressors such as deadlines, meetings, conflict management, and balancing personal and professional relationships create constant challenges. Our bodies respond by initiating the stress response, also known as the freeze, fight, or flight response.
Stress is, in fact, a primitive survival mechanism without which the human race would not have persevered—so it serves a positive function. When exposed to danger, a combination of hormones including adrenaline, oxytocin, cortisol, and norepinephrine are released into the bloodstream, providing energy for either "fight" or "flight" responses.
This response is crucial when confronted with immediate physical threats, such as encountering a predator in the wild or avoiding a high-speed collision. However, it's less beneficial when triggered by our daily modern stressors, such as financial pressures, challenging family dynamics, or workplace conflicts.
Historically, when faced with a threat like a predator, our ancestors either fled or fought. This response triggered a series of physiological changes: blood rushed to the extremities, sugar and fat were released into the bloodstream, and heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing accelerated. These changes facilitated immediate action, occurring within seconds without conscious thought.
During a stress response, cognitive function is impaired as the analytical brain temporarily shuts down. There's no time for detailed analysis in life-threatening situations—quick action is paramount. This explains why stress often leads to poor decision-making in modern contexts.
Today, while our stressors have evolved, our physiological responses remain largely unchanged. The critical difference lies in the absence of physical action to dispel stress hormones. Instead, these hormones continue to circulate, exacerbated by mental rumination on stressors.
This prolonged state of stress can precipitate or exacerbate various health conditions, including headaches, migraines, chronic fatigue, heart disease, digestive disorders, diabetes, and chronic pain.
Moreover, the primitive stress response impacts our emotional state and cognitive functions. Stress hormones can trigger fear, anxiety, and aggression. The physiological changes preparing the body for action can, if persistent, lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
Effective stress management is crucial in mitigating these effects. We must consciously cultivate relaxation responses to counteract stress activation. Various strategies can be employed to manage stress effectively.
Here at Executive Mind Solutions and The Confident Leaders Network, we advocate for a holistic approach to mental health and burnout prevention, focusing on four key pillars: Focus, Energy, Balance, and Performance.
Poor mental health and burnout significantly impair business performance. Stressed or mentally unwell leaders become demotivated, unfocused, and physically compromised. This leads to team disengagement, reduced productivity, and suboptimal results.
The financial implications of neglecting mental health—both personal and organisational—are substantial. Consider these statistics:
• 96% of leaders experience some degree of burnout, with 33% reporting extreme levels | 50% of CEOs struggle with mental health issues
• 15% of the working population faces mental health challenges
• 60% of employees leave their jobs due to ineffective management
• £65 billion was lost to poor mental health in UK businesses last year (up from £45 billion in 2019)
• 40 million working days were lost due to poor mental health in 2021 in the UK | UK employers spent £65 billion in 2021 addressing workplace mental health issues | 58.4% of the £56 billion cost is attributed to lost productivity
These figures underscore that poor mental health not only impacts time, energy, and relationships but also results in substantial financial losses through sick leave and reduced performance. Mental health issues inevitably affect your organisation.
Forward-thinking organisations must align mental health strategies with business objectives to gain a competitive edge. Addressing the current mental health crisis could save UK employers up to £70 billion annually while fostering a happier, more resilient, and productive workforce. This transformation begins with leadership.
The ABCs of Gaining a
Competitive Edge
Promoting productivity and supporting others in doing so is a key leadership responsibility. It's time to adopt a more balanced approach:
• Amplify your mental health, wellbeing, and performance
• Build burnout prevention strategies into your daily routine
• Cultivate better work-life balance
Elevating your organisation requires integrating mental health and burnout prevention into your business strategy. When leaders prioritise their mental, emotional, and physical well-being, it creates a positive ripple effect, impacting teams, employees, and families.
Creating mental health and burnout prevention strategies goes beyond raising awareness. It involves changing habits, thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Importantly, it requires establishing support systems to achieve goals and maintain long-term well-being.
Please contact us for more information about our "3 Ps of Corporate Mental Health & Burnout Prevention" membership program. In the meantime, here are our top three tips to help you manage stress quickly and easily, and take action now!
About The Author
Corina Zanner-Entwistle
Corina is the Founder and CEO of Executive Mind Solutions, a consultancy dedicated to enhancing the mental health and wellbeing of CEOs and their workforce. With a mission to help leaders and their teams manage stress, prevent burnout, and achieve a healthier work-life balance, Corina is driven by a passion for creating meaningful impact beyond the boardroom.
As Co-Founder, Corina is also in the process of establishing The Confident Leaders Network, a holistic coaching platform for Founders & Entrepreneurs to achieve 8-figure success via improved mental health and wellbeing.
With over 20 years of experience across Europe and the Middle East, Corina is fluent in English, Afrikaans, French, and German—and adept at working in diverse, multicultural settings. She began her career in educational and language training and transitioned to mental health and human behaviour, focusing on helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential by fostering resilience, enhancing emotional intelligence, and promoting effective leadership.
Corina holds a Master's Degree in Adult Education & Training, a BA in Languages and Psychology, and various certifications (including Clinical Hypnotherapy, Psychotherapy, and NLP Coaching). She has a deep understanding of mental health, particularly in overcoming anxiety and depression, and brings a non-judgmental, personalized approach to each client’s unique challenges.
As the Chief Strategy Officer for Men Matter Too, an organization committed to men’s mental health and suicide prevention, Corina is dedicated to breaking the stigma around men’s mental health. She encourages open conversation and support, appearing at events like International Men’s Day, featuring on podcasts, and engaging in pro bono work, including talks at Cambridge University and with organizations such as Let’s Keep Talking—all while keeping a sense of humour about the serious stuff.
Corina is also an accomplished author and speaker, known for her programmes like "Accelerated Executive Confidence" and "Excel Under Executive Pressure”—and her contributions to the Amazon Best Seller, “Winning Mindset: Elite Strategies for Peak Performance”.
When she’s not busy making the corporate world a better place, Corina enjoys spending time with family and friends, connecting with nature, and staying active—because who doesn’t need a bit of fresh air and a good run after a day of strategizing on how to keep minds healthy.
Based in Suffolk, UK, Corina continues to inspire others on their journey to mental wellbeing.
Connect with Corina Zanner-Entwistle on LinkedIn to learn more about her work and insights here.
