Mind your business
Helping small business owners mind their mental health
Mental health resources for the self-employed
Our survey of 749 UK small business owners revealed feelings of burnout, anxiety, stress, and depression. If you’ve ever felt this way, or struggled with your mental health in the workplace, it’s important to know you’re not alone.
We’ve partnered with Mental Health at Work, a programme curated by Mind, to help support the mental health of the UK’s small businesses and self-employed.
And together we’ve curated resources to offer guidance for you and your team in the workplace.
So the next time someone asks how you’re doing, don’t say ‘Mind Your Business’, talk about it.
Wellbeing challenges
for the self-employed
As the cost of living increases, so do the worries of small business owners everywhere.
Our survey of over 700 small business owners has highlighted some of the concerns they are facing.
Are small business owners
at risk of burnout?
What needs to be done to help small business owners’ mental wellbeing?
Only 10 per cent of small business owners think that the government is doing enough to support them. But it’s time to change that.
A third (35%) want to learn how to improve their mental health but don’t feel they have access to the right resources. Something particularly important when 51 per cent of small business owners don’t feel comfortable disclosing their poor mental health as a reason for an absence or missed deadline.
This lack of support contributes to the three in five (59%) small business owners who’ve experienced anxiety and the 38 per cent who’ve suffered from depression.
It’s time to bring about change and make sure the self-employed have access to the right mental health support.
Start the conversation
Whether you’re advocating for yourself or want to support your team, it’s important to embrace conversations about wellbeing in the workplace. Take a look at some of the below articles and get the conversation going.
Practical steps to help manage stress
Dr Hazel Harrison offers tips on how you can manage stress as a business owner.
Read more
How to stop feeling overwhelmed
1 in 3 small business owners feel the effects of burnout. Business coach Lorna Thomas offers tips to help you cope.
Top tips for managing financial wellbeing
Selina Flavius, financial coach and founder of @blackgirlfinanceuk, shares her guide to financial wellbeing for small businesses.
Dealing with social anxiety as a small business owner
59 per cent of small business owners experience feelings of anxiety. Matthew Knight from Leapers gives his advice on overcoming these blockers.
Meditation: how it can reduce anxiety and improve sleep
Meditate with chartered psychologist and mindfulness trainer Susan Peacock to thrive as a small business owner.
Best mental health resources for the self-employed
Take a look at our curated selection of mental health resources available whenever you need them.
10 simple tips to improve your mental wellbeing
How can you look after your wellbeing? Use these 10 simple tips to manage your wellbeing when running a small business.
How to have difficult conversations
Worried about an upcoming difficult conversation? Read our guide for some tips on how to handle it.
Setting boundaries when you run a business
Communicating your limits and expectations for how you want to be treated is key to your emotional and mental health.
Additional wellbeing support for business owners
Use these guides to help support the wellbeing of you and your staff:
Self-employed holiday pay: what are you entitled to?
A guide to compassionate leave
How to support mental health at work as an employer
7 tips for improving your sleep: an expert guide
Is work life balance possible when you have a side hustle?
You’re not alone
No matter what you’re going through, remember that you’re never alone. Mental Health at Work have curated stories from small business owners going through similar things, as well as toolkits and resources to help you and your people in the workplace.
If you need urgent help, please reach out to someone. You can:
- call 999
- go straight to A&E, if you can
- find a number for your local crisis helpline on the NHS website
About Simply Business
We’re one of the UK’s largest business insurance providers. Since we started life in 2005, we’ve helped three million small businesses and self-employed people find the protection that’s right for them, from builders to bakers and personal trainers (we cover landlords, too). More than 800,000 customers across 1,000 different trades trust us to support them with their insurance.
You can build a policy tailored to your business, choosing the covers that you need to help protect your business’s name
About Mental Health at Work
Mental Mental Health at Work is a programme led by the Mental Health at Work Leadership Council and curated by Mind, the national mental health charity. A gateway to workplace mental health resources, UK small business owners can access the tools and knowledge to begin their journey towards better workplace wellbeing.