Small business resource kit

Key information

• The pressures of managing a small business can include financial stress, high work demands, juggling multiple roles, long hours, poor work-life balance, blurring work and home life, isolation, and lack of support.  
• These workplace factors can harm mental health, so it’s important to take proactive steps to manage them.
• Creating a mentally healthy small business doesn’t need to be a costly or time-consuming process.
• There are significant benefits to your business, including increased productivity and a more engaged and resilient team. 

Tips to create a mentally healthy small business 

Manage workplace factors

Common factors can impact mental health at work, such as high demands, bullying, or job insecurity.  

Learn how to identify these factors by talking to your employees and, assessing data such as staff absenteeism.

Then make a plan to manage or prevent these risk factors.

Resources you can use:

• take the Workplace Pulse Check to get a confidential assessment of how mentally health your workplace is in five minutes 
• if your business has six or more people, survey your staff using the Workplace Wellbeing Assessment. You'll get a detailed, confidential assessment of how well your organisation is managing areas important to mental health, like leadership and culture. You'll also get recommended actions to improve your workplace 
• learn about the factors that impact mental health 
• uncover which risk factors are in your business by having effective one on one conversations
• take these steps to create a mentally healthy workplace.

Make mental health a priority 

Make mental health part of your day-to-day operations.  

Having clear mental health and wellbeing policies, strategies or processes can help you meet your work health and safety (WHS) obligations and create a work environment where your team feel supported and more comfortable talking about mental health.  

Resources you can use:

• take these steps to create a mentally healthy workplace
• create clear mental health policies using the Policy Resource Kit.

Mental health training 

Do training and education to better understand mental health, break down stigma, know the warning signs and what to do if you or someone at work might need support.  

We offer free and easy training for everyone at work (including sole traders). We also offer free coaching which lets you confidentially chat to a highly trained expert about any issue affecting mental health in your business. They'll give you and strategies to manage the mental health of your workplace.

Book now for our free training and coaching programs.

Connect to support 

It’s important your employees know how to access mental health support if they need it.

There are many mental health support services available that you can share with your team.

If you think an employee may need mental health support, you should reach out and start a conversation. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed, you can also access these services and talk to a mental health expert.  

If an employee takes time off due to mental ill-health, find out how you can support them to recover at work. 

Resources you can use:

• our list of mental health support services
• advice on how to support an employee to recover at work
• the RUOK? website has more advice on how to start a conversation. 

Look after your own mental health 

Managing the demands of a small business can take a mental toll on yourself and those around you.  

These stresses may build up over time, and you might not notice how much they’re affecting you.  

There are some simple steps you can take to manage your own mental health, such as:

• setting an alarm as a reminder to take breaks
• switching off from work calls and emails during certain times
• keeping active
• connecting with others
• planning out your day
• setting clear boundaries between work and home time. 

Resources you can use:

• the Beyond Blue website has more tips to stay mentally healthy if you’re a small business owner
• learn from others by watching our mental health at work success stories.

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Taking part in our free mental health training has helped staff at S1T2, a technology business, better manage the unique pressures of working in a small business. They integrated mental health into their business plan and saw benefits for staff and the business. 

More support 

• Ahead for Business supports small businesses to be mentally healthy with information and resources. 
• NewAccess is a free and confidential mental health coaching program for small business owners, developed by Beyond Blue. 
• Tax and super support from the Australian Tax Office is available for small businesses.
• The NSW Small Business Commissioner offers advice and resources to help your business thrive.

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