Page 54 - FON Spring Issue

FON HEALTH
The Health of Your Family Office Begins in The Brain
When Meghan Markle told Oprah Winfrey that she “just didn’t want to be alive anymore and that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought” and went on to report that the royal family discouraged her from getting professional help, her comments served as a wake-up call about the very real mental health struggles of the uber wealthy and those in the public eye. As the world emerges from the pandemic, it is clear that there is a massive mental health crisis that impacts all levels of society, including family offices.
Unfortunately, Ms. Markle is just the latest in a long series of high profile individuals experiencing mental health issues. Well- known individuals such as Gloria Vanderbilt, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Harrison Ford are also among those who have experienced mental health challenges, yet it is an issue that is as old as time.
“When high profile families have a family member suffering from mental health challenges such as depression or anxiety, they may want to keep it a secret due to a perceived fear of being stigmatized. Although they have unlimited resources, they may seek help in a convoluted manner that is not necessarily productive. Working with families of means is a unique skill set that requires offering a level of service on par with luxury brands,” said Dr. Drew Ramsey, a nutritional psychiatrist who specializes in helping family offices and high net worth individuals.
54 FON MAGAZINE / SPRING ISSUE 2021 / FONMagazine.com