Best mental health resources for the self-employed

Looking after your mental health when you’re self-employed can be complex. Even though self-employment offers purpose and freedom, it can also bring instability and isolation.

Sometimes it can be difficult to recognise how work affects your mental health, so checking in with yourself is always a good idea.

Simply Business has partnered with Mental Health at Work, a programme curated by Mind, to support the UK’s self-employed with their mental health and wellbeing.

Together we surveyed more than 700 small business owners to understand their challenges. Now we want to start a conversation and end the stigma surrounding mental health at work through our Mind Your Business initiative.

Below we’ve shared the best mental health resources for the self-employed, regardless of how much support you need.

Best mental health resources for the self-employed

If you need urgent support, It’s important to seek help. Visit Mind’s crisis support page to get the assistance you need.

If you’d just like someone to talk to about your situation, there are listening services that run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Or if you’re in a financial situation that’s affecting your mental health, Business Debtline offers financial support over the phone or webchat. They also have an emergency line for serious situations – if you’re at risk of losing your home, for example.

And our cost of living hub offers guidance on issues related to the cost of living and energy crisis.

There are plenty of useful resources for maintaining and improving your mental health. Here are some of the best:

• 10 ways to reduce stress – Mental Health at Work share simple ways of reducing your level of stress
• how to have difficult conversations – It’s inevitable that you’ll have to discuss uncomfortable topics when you’re running a business. Knowing how to approach them can help reduce the anxiety around them
• how to deal with loneliness – Mental Health at Work’s tips on how the self-employed can combat feelings of isolation and connect with others
• mental wellbeing for business owners – our tips for small business owners and the self-employed that can help you ‘check in’ with yourself
• supporting your staff – if you employ people, it’s important to have some things in place to support their mental health

Simply Business and Mental Health at Work

We spoke to Eglel Gomaa, owner of Girasole Restaurant in Seven Sisters, London about their mental health and they highlighted a common problem for small business owners and the self-employed.

“There is no one to offer support to my own mental health needs. I always put my customers and my team before myself. There is simply no support for the mental health of small business owners. I worry about other business owners who face the same problems”, Eglel said.

Stories like Eglel’s are unfortunately common and this is why Simply Business and Mental Health at Work are campaigning for change.

We want to start a conversation and break the stigma surrounding mental health at work through our Mind Your Business initiative.

Real life stories

• Looking after yourself as a freelance ‘side hustler’
• Experiences of burnout from The Corporate Hippie

Visit Mental Health at Work’s dedicated Self-Employed Support Hub for toolkits, resources and powerful stories to help improve workplace wellbeing.