Supporting Small Business Owners To Improve Their Mental Health & Wellbeing At Work Guide
October is mental health month with World Mental Health Day observed on Oct 10 each year with the main objective to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world, mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.
Beyond Blue have launched a campaign to support the mental health and wellbeing of Australia’s 2.26 million small business owners through a free Beyond Blue guide available online. The Supporting small business owners to improve their mental health and wellbeing at work guide provides business advisers such as accountants, industry associations, bookkeepers, tax agents and representative bodies, or family and friends, with practical tips about how to provide support without needing to be trained counsellors or clinicians.
Advisers, family and friends can support the mental health and wellbeing of Australia’s 2.26 million small business owners through this free Beyond Blue guide available online.
The Supporting small business owners to improve their mental health and wellbeing at work guide includes information such as:
- How to provide immediate support to a small business owner who is distressed;
- Recognising the signs of poor mental health;
- Planning and having a conversation with someone you’re concerned about;
- What to do if the person doesn’t want to talk about their mental health; and,
- How small business owners can improve their situation.
Did you know that Ninety-seven (97) per cent of businesses in Australia are small businesses employing up to 19 people. Small business owners can face a number of challenges in starting and running a business, which can impact their mental health.
Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman said the guide was designed for advisers, industry associations, families and friends because they were often the first to notice when small business owners experience mental health challenges.
“Almost one third of small business owners report having high levels of psychological distress, mainly due to long working hours, social isolation, customer demands, cash flow issues and conflicting demands between home and work,” Ms Harman said.
“These factors can sometimes increase the risk of developing mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. Small business owners have told Beyond Blue they want mental health resources to be available through their business networks so they can access the information through established and trusted contacts.
“The guide allows advisers and others, who often see first-hand how stress can affect small business owners, to play an important support role that goes beyond advice on accounts and assets. It can also help the loved ones of small business owners to provide support when work is getting on top of them.”
The guide’s ease of navigation makes it a very powerful tool that not only supports mental health, but it will also help their client’s business. The guide also provides links to resources such as personal and workplace wellbeing plans, actions that small business owners can take themselves, and tips on how small business advisers can look after their own mental health. It is available for download at bb.org.au/supportingsmallbusiness. The guide complements Everymind’s Ahead for Business website and app for small business owners.
Mental health professionals are available at the Beyond Blue Support Service via phone 24/7 on 1300 22 4636 or via www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support for online chat (3PM – 12AM AEST or email responses within 24 hours).
Talk to small business owners about their mental health. Download the Beyond Blue support guide at bb.org.au/SupportingSmallBusiness
ALUCA is also very proud to be co-hosting with Turks Legal a special mental health in life insurance panel session on October 31st. you can read more about this in this edition of ReB.