Ahead for Business presentations shine spotlight on mental health at small business roadshows

Everymind’s Ahead for Business team is on the ground and travelling throughout the country this month engaging with small business owners and sole traders around the topics of mental health and wellbeing as part of a national Small Business Fair.

The Small Business Fair is being run via the Australian Department of Jobs and Small Business, which is aiming to bring together business leaders, business owners and government agencies under one location to support small businesses throughout the country.

This week the Ahead for Business team is travelling to South Australia following participation in a series of Western Australia Small Business Fair events held last week.

Everymind Project Lead, Mental Health and Research, Peter McDermott who presented and spoke to attendees at Small Business Fair events in Perth and Regional Western Australia said business stress and its links to mental health were on the minds of many attendees.

“Key stressors faced by small business were big topic points at the fairs including how personal and digital supports such as Ahead for Business can assist with the mental load which many small business owners carry,” said Mr McDermott.

“We heard from many small business owners who told personal stories of the stresses they face on a daily basis and wanted to learn more about tools that can support them in accessing information, resources and ideas for self-care.

“It was great to see that mental health was also on the minds of many speakers at the event, with representatives from the intermediary space, coaches and local business chambers all highlighting that mental health and wellbeing play an important role in business success.

“In fact, a number of speakers noted that small businesses and sole traders should not only consider developing a business plan but ensure they incorporate personal goals and a focus on wellbeing as key elements of the plan.”

Ahead for Business is a fit-for-purpose response to the mental health and wellbeing needs of small business which has been allocated a $3.1 million federal government grant for a national roll out.

It is an initiative of Everymind and includes a digital platform includes a website and app that connect small business owners to tools, programs and interventions to support them based on the unique stressors they face.

Mr McDermott said he was looking forward to meeting with small business owners and stakeholders in South Australia this week as the Small Business Fair holds events in Mount Barker and Glenelg.

“It is important to continue conversations which were started in Western Australia and we anticipate these will continue at locations throughout the country as mental health and small business is brought into the spotlight as an issue to be tackled both regionally and nationally,” Mr McDermott said.

Visit the Ahead for Business digital hub.