Small business owners can now put their mental health first thanks to NewAccess for Small Business Owners, a coaching and support program launched by the Government.
The new program is set to provide small business owners with free, confidential and tailored mental health coaching.
The coaching and support program is part of the Australian Government’s $7 million BusinessBalance initiative, which was announced in the 2020-21 Budget. The BusinessBalance initiative provides immediate, short-term support of mental and financial wellbeing for small businesses as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business and Senator Michaelia Cash said that while small businesses are the backbone of the country’s economy, small business owners suffer from depression and anxiety more than the general population.
“Despite collectively employing more Australians, small business owners have the fewest resources to deal with their own needs, including their mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this, putting our small business owners under even more financial and emotional pressure,” Minister Cash said.
“That’s why it is crucial to our economy that small business owners get the support they need towards recovery from COVID-19 and beyond.”
Developed by Beyond Blue, in partnership with the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, NewAccess for Small Business Owners is designed to help small business owners who are feeling overwhelmed about everyday life issues, which may be caused by business challenges, staffing, relationships, health or loneliness.
Advisers for the coaching and support program will have a small business background in order to fully help small business owners.
BusinessBalance also includes the Counting on U program, delivered through Deakin University, which is a free and professional development program that builds the mental health knowledge of trusted business advisers.
The advisers are trained in mental health first aid and relationship-building skills so they can recognise signs of mental and financial stress in small business owners and connect them to specialised services.