Research carried out by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) found that 34% of small business owners had their mental health adversely impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic...

The FSB's survey also found that 24% of respondents currently have a mental health condition such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress. 16% of small business owners report having a mild mental health condition; 6% stated that they have a moderate mental health condition; and 2% said that they have a severe mental health condition.

Below is a list of low-cost, common-sense actions a small business like yours can take to manage mental health in the workplace, with benefits for both your employees and your business.

Supporting staff members to cope with mental ill health doesn’t need to be bureaucratic or require lots of paperwork, and in many cases, it is simply about being aware.

• Make sure that work environments are suitable for the task
• For staff working in isolation, ensure there are clear and regular lines of communication. This can mean simply a regular phone catch-up
• Consider introducing an informal mentoring scheme where suitable to help new staff members understand your business faster and to support them in their role
• Set reasonable and agreed deadlines for work completion
• Provide a suitable working environment
• Define the work role and responsibilities as much as is possible Involve the employee in the planning of their workload where possible
• Keep records of sickness absence and use them to analyse the causes of absence
• Define the work role and responsibilities as much as is possible Involve the employee in the planning of their workload where possible
• Promote a supportive working environment with regular catch-ups
• Noise, temperature and light levels can all have an impact on wellbeing
• Where possible and suitable to the business consider space dividers and quiet spaces to help improve the work environment

Encourage and promote an open environment at work. Employees need to feel confident and supported if they choose to be open about their mental health issues. And remember, it is their choice whether to disclose and sensitive personal information should remain confidential.