‘There’s no shame in this’ – Director Georg Sapiano calls for open discussions about mental health

Georg Sapiano, Director and Founding Partner at AE Business Advisors, took to social media to make a heartfelt call for more open discussions about professionals’ mental health.

Looking back at his experiences as a Lawyer, Dr Sapiano noted how “[he has] come across people in highly stressful situations which had a clear impact on their state of well-being and state of mind.”

“I too have, at times, felt that I could not cope with my load very much longer and knew it was unsustainable for my young family as well as for myself,” he wrote.

“In frank and open discussions, I have spoken with clients and colleagues about their own challenges. Perhaps ‘angst’ is the better term,” he added.

Dr Sapiano went on to look back at a handful of eye-opening experiences that evidenced how struggling with one’s mental health is, in fact, a relatively common occurrence.

“Some [colleagues] confessed to saying ‘I hate my life’ over and over again to themselves out of anybody’s earshot. Others have looked at the terms and conditions of their life policies to see whether or how their heirs would be financially impacted if they committed suicide,” he said.

“This is the stuff of serious conversations which require an environment of trust in order to unburden and to share feelings. I am describing events that happened about ten years ago, when the mental health challenges of professional were not the subjects of great awareness. This may be because, as professionals advising others, we feel that admitting to these feelings damages us in the marketplace,” Dr Sapiano continued.

In light of this, the AE Business Advisors Director addressed those readers going through rough patches: “I can only say that you are not alone in feeling or having felt this way. There is no shame in this. None. Seek out a friend first and then a professional.”

“Nothing is more important than your health and wellbeing: material wealth is meaningless if you and your family cannot enjoy it serenely,” he concluded.

Dr Sapiano holds a wealth of experience in the local legal industry, having served as a Managing Partner at the Aequitas Legal law firm for around 20 years.

In October 2021, the Lawyer took on the role of Director at AE Business Advisors, leading the company’s Legal Strategy and Advice team.