Two-thirds of small business owners are experiencing psychological stress – up by a third from pre-COVID times – according to research by the Department of Treasury. Mental health organisation, Beyond Blue, has responded by launching a free mental health coaching program, NewAccess for Small Business Owners, and a free live webinar to give you the tools to move forward.
Small business owners are the lifeblood of the Australian economy. However, the pressures are high, even at the best of times: insecure work, customer demands, managing staff, and long hours to keep the business in the black so you can support yourself and your family.
The COVID-19 situation has presented a whole new set of obstacles and challenges which many small business owners have found overwhelming and detrimental to their emotional resilience.
“For most, it’s not just a livelihood, it’s a fundamental part of their life,” Bruce Billson, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO), tells Kochie’s Business Builders. “Their identities are interwoven into their business and their driving purpose is often their business. The stakes are so much higher than just a job. Many people have invested a lifetime into building up their business. You’re heavily invested in it in so many respects, which amplifies the emotional challenges of these times.”
Georgie Harman, CEO of Beyond Blue, agrees. “This is a community that’s doing it really tough, and they need support,” she says. “And they need support from those who understand the world that they live in, and the unique stressors that they’re experiencing, especially right now.”
The NewAccess for Small Business Owners (NASBO) program
Beyond Blue, in partnership with ASBFEO, has developed a new program providing free mental health coaching for small business owners – by Coaches who themselves have a small business background.
Funded by the Department of Treasury, and delivered by Beyond Blue In partnership with Richmond Fellowship Queensland, NASBO is a structured six-session mental health coaching program. Clinically supervised Coaches use Low-Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LiCBT) to provide practical tools to help small business owners manage challenges and break the cycle of negative or unhelpful thoughts.
Each program is tailored personally to you. It’s free, accessible and confidential, and you don’t need a doctor’s referral to take part.
After an initial one-hour assessment, you then have up to five 30-minute weekly sessions with a coach via phone or video call from Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm AEST (except public holidays).
“We know from a lot of research that often small business owners are reluctant to seek support, or they wait a long time to reach out,” says Georgie. “Often during a crisis, it can be hard to step back and see things clearly. Our Coaches have a small business background so they understand your experiences as they’ve been there themselves, and they work in very practical ways to problem-solve.”
To date 96 per cent of participants who have been through the NASBO program state that they would recommend the program to another small business owner. “We know that seven out of 10 people who use the service actually recover,” says Georgie. “And they’ve got skills in their toolkits to help them to deal with situations, should they arise in the future.”
“NewAccess for Small Business Owners complements existing clinical mental health services, is completely free and confidential.”
With men and those in rural and remote areas tending to access mental health support services less, Bruce is keen to encourage these communities in particular to take advantage of the free NASBO program.
“What’s exciting about the NewAccess for Small Business Owners program is that the coaching model brings some emotional health and wellbeing tools and coaching tips that really help us as business owners to build up our resilience,” says Bruce. “It helps us understand a bit more about what’s going on in our heads, how to contend with sleepless nights and feeling overwhelmed, and equipping us with some new tools and insights to help navigate this time and be in much better shape and more knowledgeable in the inevitable event that more challenges will come.”
You’re invited to a free webinar this October
Find out more about the NASBO program by joining a free webinar hosted by Georgie and Bruce on Friday, October 29, 2021, from 1pm-2pm.
As well as learning more about the program, what it is, how it works and how you can access it, you’ll also hear from one of the Coaches and can ask questions.
“The Coach will share their insights and experiences in coaching other small business owners through difficult times, the successes they’ve seen, and what you can expect when you come on board,” explains Georgie.
“Small business owners are often time poor, put their business ahead of their own wellbeing, and can feel that seeking support for their mental health is a sign of failure. There’s no shame in admitting that you’re not coping and that you’re struggling to deal with the incredibly stressful circumstances you’re living and working in at the moment,” she says.
“Many people tell our Coaches they joined the program because they ‘just can’t do this on my own anymore’. And we want small business owners to know that you don’t need to do it on your own anymore – that NewAccess for Small Business Owners and our amazing Coaches are there, they get your world, and they’re here to help.”
Reserve your spot for our free NewAccess for Small Business Owners webinar here.
Find out more about the NewAccess for Small Business Owners program here.
This article is brought to you by Kochie’s Business Builders, supported by Beyond Blue.
Feature image: AdobeStock
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