Free mental health support for small business
The Federal Government has announced additional funding to extend the availability of free mental health support to small business owners dealing with the current pandemic and recent natural disasters.
Funding of $4.6 million will go to Beyond Blue to boost its successful and innovative mental health program, NewAccess for Small Business Owners, and $2.1 million will go to Financial Counselling Australia to extend the Small Business Debt Helpline for 2022.
NewAccess for Small Business Owners
The NewAccess for Small Business Owners Program provides free, confidential, one-on-one mental health support by phone or video call to small business owners, including sole traders. The coaches are former small business owners themselves, so they understand the unique challenges that small businesses face, including family and financial pressures.
The program, developed and provided by Beyond Blue, starts with an initial assessment that allows the coach to develop a program tailored to each business owner’s individual needs. The sessions then use Low-intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LiCBT) work to help participants in recognising the ways they think, act and feel, and in separating from unhelpful thoughts. The program provides practical skills to manage stress and get back to feeling like yourself.
The recently announced additional funding will allow for six more coaches from 1 April 2022, meaning the program will have a team of 18 specialised support coaches available to help 4,680 small business owners through the series of six one-on-one coaching sessions.
Business owners who’ve participated in the program say it’s helped them feel better able to address the challenges they’re facing, and they feel well supported by people who understand them. Participants also say they value being able to get support almost immediately using the free service.
More information about the NewAccess for Small Business Owners program is available by calling 1300 945 301 or on the Beyond Blue website at www.beyondblue.org.au/newaccess-sbo.
Small Business Debt Helpline
The Small Business Debt Helpline was set up in 2020 by Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) with Federal Government funding. It’s a service for small business owners in financial difficulty, and supports small business owners to navigate issues including avoiding bankruptcy, negotiating payment plans, debt waivers, grant applications and insolvency.
The helpline is free to use, and the services provided are independent, confidential and impartial. Its professional financial counsellors offer a listening ear and practical business advice. They don’t sell anything or work on commission.
Small business owners can contact the Small Business Debt Helpline by calling 1800 413 828 (9 am to 5.30 pm AEDT, Monday to Friday) or on the Small Business Debt website at https://sbdh.org.au/.
ATO support options
The ATO also reminds business owners whose mental wellbeing may be affecting their ability to pay tax or super that it has support options available, including help with setting up payment plans and deferring lodgements or payments. Information is available on the ATO website at www.ato.gov.au/General/Support-in-difficult-times/.
Source: www.ato.gov.au/general/covid-19/
https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/stuart-robert-2021/media-releases/more-funding-free-mental-health-counselling-small