World Mental Health Day – How to get help

World Mental Health Day is happening on Sunday 10 October.

82% of small business owners say mental health declined due to Covid-19 – with one in five describing their mental wellbeing as being in a bad place.

Being mentally healthy doesn’t just mean that you don’t have a mental health problem. According to the Mental Health Foundation, those who are in good mental health are able to make the most of their potential, cope with life and play a full part in their family, workplace, community, and among friends.

According to the most recent data released by the Office for National Statistics, by the middle of 2020, one in five people in Britain was suffering from depression, twice the number in 2019.

The pressures of running a small business during a pandemic

Small business owners have been among the hardest hit by Covid-19, with the pandemic – and the various lockdowns, restrictions, and changing regulations that have come with it – causing severe disruption to business operations and, hence, in income.

Even though restrictions have lifted and small businesses are in a post-recovery phase, many are still working to recoup lost earnings from Covid-19 – which amount to £126.6bn in total for UK SMEs.

A third (33%) of small business owners had shut down their businesses at different points in the pandemic, and more than two-fifths (44%) are operating at a reduced capacity. Only a fifth (21%) of self-employed people have been able to continue work as usual during the pandemic.

More than a third (35%) have struggled to switch off, one in five (21%) say it has affected their confidence and more than a fifth (22%) say it has negatively impacted relationships with family or friends.

In addition, almost a third (28%) are feeling demotivated to continue with or restart their business, and one in five (18%) have fallen out of love with their business or the industry they work in.

With six million SMEs in the UK, accounting for over 99% of all businesses, this has the potential to hugely impact our economy and local communities.

Mental health in the workplace

All employers have a general duty to look after the welfare of employees under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and to assess and manage risk to their staff under Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

A mental health issue can be considered a disability under the law if all of the following apply:

• It has a ‘substantial adverse effect’ on the life of an employee (for example, they regularly cannot focus on a task, or it takes them longer to do);
• It lasts at least 12 months, or is expected to;
• It affects their ability to do their normal day-to-day activities (for example, interacting with people, following instructions, or keeping to set working times).

Taking care of your employees

A research carried out by Mental health charity, Mind, discovered that:

• 21% said they had called in sick to avoid work because of workplace stress;
• 14% said they quit their job and 42% has thought about quitting due to workplace stress;
• 30% disagreed with the statement ‘I would feel able to talk openly with my line manager if I was feeling stressed’;
• 56% of employers said they would like to do more to improve staff wellbeing but don’t feel they have the right training or guidance.

How to get help

If you know someone struggling with their mental health you should click on this link from NHS Every Mind Matters.

If you are struggling and you need urgent help click here.

There are several apps that can help you cope with psychological issues.

We at Cubefunder have gathered a list of the best mental health apps:

1. BetterHelp – If you’re looking for a qualified counsellor or therapist, but are struggling to find the right one then we strongly encourage you to download BetterHelp;
2. Headspace: Meditation & Sleep – You can choose from hundreds of meditations that focus on managing stress and anxiety and create better behaviours in order to bolster your mental health;
3. Thrive – Thrive’s technology invites you to employ clinically-proven techniques to live a happier life;
4. My Positive Self – This app provides interactive tools and coping strategies, in addition to mood trackers, journals and motivational messages and tips to encourage you to start thinking in a more positive way; 
5. Calm Harm – This app helps you to distract so you can overcome the urge, and encourage users to express their feelings in a different and safe way;
6. Recovery Record – This is a free app that helps those suffering from eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, as well as those with general eating and weight concerns;
7. Quit That! – This is a habit tracker for individuals wanting to quit their addictions, for example, alcohol or smoking;
8. Moodfit – This is one of the most popular mental health apps as it promises to provide the most ‘comprehensive set of tools for good mental health’ and help you understand what triggers your emotions. 

Breathing techniques for anxiety are also a fantastic and effective way to help improve your mental health. Not only are they scientifically proven to help you feel better but they’re also completely natural and doable anywhere.