Gatineau, 10 October 2024 — Cilex spotlights World Mental Health Day with projects aimed at supporting innovative entrepreneurs. The incubator-accelerator recently became the first Referral Organization based in the Outaouais region for Le Parachute program, which specializes in mental health support for innovative entrepreneurs. The Cilex team also organized a hiking activity at the Mackenzie King Estate in early October with its incubated businesses.
Le Parachute is an initiative led by the Mouvement des accélérateurs d’innovation du Québec (MAIN) and supported by the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy. Started in 2020 in Quebec City, the program is now being deployed by MAIN all over the province, with the goal of changing the paradigm around the mental health of innovative entrepreneurs. Among other things, this program will enable Cilex to offer a bank of hours dedicated to mental health support to participants in its coaching programs, currently or in the past.
“Being an entrepreneur is a daily challenge that can have a significant impact on mental health. It is critical to take care of yourself and seek support when needed. We are very pleased to be able to offer this tool to our incubated and alumni entrepreneurs, to help them face these challenges more peacefully,” explains Chloé Martinetti, Interim General Director of Cilex.
Last Friday, Cilex organized a hike at the Mackenzie King Estate with several businesses incubated in its programs. The time spent outdoors allowed entrepreneurs to build a sense of camaraderie in a low-stress environment and enjoy the colours of the Outaouais landscape.
In a 2019 report on entrepreneurship, the Canadian Mental Health Association reported that 46% of entrepreneurs felt that mental health issues interfered with their ability to work, 51% mentioned experiencing feelings of inadequacy, and 66% reported difficulties maintaining a good work-life balance. However, fewer than one in five people (16%) were likely to seek professional help.
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Source:
Communications Team
Cilex
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