Is it really taboo, or is this just the simplest framing for a trend story now that a writer at BetaBeat has heard two stories about startup founders killing themselves?

There is certainly a chest-thumping habit in the startup world. 90% of the startups you speak to in any meetup are probably doing dismally, but you'll almost never hear them say anything negative until they suddenly fold and start doing something else.

"How's it going?"

"Great! Our user base is growing, and they love the product, and blah blah blah"

6 months later

"Oh, you're doing something else?"

"Yeah, it worked well, but it wasn't successful enough." (or, if they're more honest, "Our users loved us but we were making about $100 a month of turnover")

Bob has 6 months of hard time with depression, but gets treatment and now feels recovered. Bob goes to a job interview.

Does Bob disclose the mental illness that he suffered? Does he keep it a secret? When does he disclose it, at the interview, or after they offer a job, or after he accepts the job?

How many employers would give Bob the job knowing that he's just had mental illness? How many would blatantly discriminate? How many would sub-consciously discriminate?

In the UK a law had to be made to prevent employers from discriminating against people with disabilities, especially mental illness. And then people had to stop disclosing at interview, but disclosing after the job offer and then talking about "reasonable adjustments". ("I want the job; I feel recovered; I need half a day once every month to see a doctor but this will be tapered off.")

Yes, mental illness is still a taboo.

Every startup networking event I've been to has been like a high school pep rally. If you aren't the social type (with many close friends), going against that grain is hard. That makes you feel left out and separate. that allows depression to creep in.

I do think it is very real thing. Of course it's not 100% of founders, but the real numbers are hard to know behind the cheerleading.