Burnout and addiction among executives and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) are growing concerns globally.
In the latest episode of AB Majlis, Abdullah Boulad, Founder of The Balance Rehab Clinic, speaks candidly on the rise of mental health challenges among the elite, cultural nuances in the Middle East and how true leadership starts with self-understanding.
The clinic which operates facilities in Zurich, Mallorca, London, and Marbella has grown to serve executives, royals and ultra-high-net-worth clients primarily from around the world with a vast number of them coming from the Middle East.
“I haven’t seen any person really without a mental health issue,” Boulad said.
Regional executives face mounting pressure that extends beyond typical business challenges. For those managing inherited wealth or family businesses, the burden centers on preservation rather than growth.
“We [HNWIs] compare ourselves with out peers and also with our parents or grandparents, we want to achieve the same or if someone inherits a lot of money or a business there’s the pressure to perform and not to lose anything,” he explains.
The isolation intensifies at senior levels. C-suite executives and public figures struggle to maintain authentic relationships as their networks expand, leading to trust issues and substance misuse, particularly prescription medications.
Boulad, who previously worked in venture capital before entering the mental health field, experienced his own burnout that resulted in a heart attack. The experience has since shaped his lifestyle, choices and business.
“Look we are experts as entrepreneurs in solving external problems, leading people and making innovations but we lack the capability of managing ourselves and our time and setting boundaries,” he explained.
While dealing with clients from around the world including names such as Kanye West and Bianca Censori, he emphasises the highest regard for confidentiality. Locations remain confidential, with staff receiving limited background information.
The clinic combines clinical treatment with lifestyle factors, examining family systems, childhood trauma and cultural background. “Everything plays a big factor,” he said.
A common misconception among executives is equating productivity with success, according to Boulad. “It’s not about productivity. It’s about efficiency and knowing when to say no.”
Environmental factors also affect the nervous system, often unknowingly. Loud offices, constant stimulation and urban living passively stress the nervous system.
“You have the ability to balance it out,” he assures.
Boulad schedules his availability strictly from 11 AM to 4 PM for business, with time before and after reserved for personal and family activities. He includes planned rest periods in his calendar.
Physical movement provides the most significant mental health benefit, Boulad said, estimating it replaces 11 to 12 daily supplements.
For entrepreneurs, Boulad recommends prioritising personal development over additional credentials. “Do the work by understanding yourself,” he said. “If you do the work yourself, you are a better leader. Your business will be better.”
Leaders who develop self-awareness before scaling businesses can separate business failures from personal identity, protecting self-esteem and resilience.
The approach emphasises human-oriented rather than purely transactional business relationships. “We have always to think about people,” Boulad said. “The human behind getting the service, the human offering the service.”
Mental health issues span a broad spectrum from anxiety and depression to PTSD and addiction. Prescription medication addiction remains the most common form among the clinic’s clientele.
Cultural factors continue to create barriers to seeking help in the region, though awareness is growing.
“And certainly, take a nap,” he joked.
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