Mind Your Mental Health

By Business SA, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive, Martin Haese.

Published in The Advertiser SA Business Journal on Tuesday 21 September 2021.

As we approach October, it’s timely to start a conversation about a topic that is very close to my heart, something that has always existed but has become more apparent during the last 20 months.

October is Mental Health Month and Business SA is running a series of events and programs to support business owners in minding their own mental health and that of those around them.

The fact is that mental health has been a challenge for business owners for far longer than the current pandemic and is too frequently overlooked. After all, isn’t the boss meant to be bullet proof?

A recent survey of members undertaken by Business SA determined that 73% of organisations across South Australia are experiencing mental health difficulties within their own organisation.

Difficult times will obviously see an increase in these struggles; however, business owners have long felt as though they have the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Having responsibility for the success of a business is far from easy. The concept of ‘it’s lonely at the top’ is often true and too often felt.

Nonetheless, business owners do it because they love it. The satisfaction drawn from creating something meaningful is so compelling. However, while risk can provide rewards, the combination of long working hours, managing employees, chasing new business and managing finances, paired with the intense desire for success is not always sustainable.

Many business owners succumb to stress, anxiety and depression while attempting to meet the ongoing demands of their business, and more needs to be done to prevent it.

These hard-working and enterprising individuals are the backbone of South Australia and role models for their employees, their families and other aspiring entrepreneurs. However, without support, the risk of deepening the mental health crisis amongst the business community only grows.

When we catch a plane, we are given safety protocols instructing us in case of an emergency to fit our own facemasks and inhale oxygen before assisting others. The same could be said about managing mental health.

By putting their own mental health first, employers are demonstrating leadership for others. By seeking support when needed and talking about the struggles, we are showing that it’s OK not to be OK all the time.

I appreciate these may be difficult concepts for some. All too often we define success as being the best, rather than being the best we can be. With such high expectations on ourselves and those around us, it’s no wonder ‘burn out’ is on the rise and our mental health system is in overdrive.

Business SA, as South Australia’s peak employer body, recognises that more discussion is needed about the mental health of business owners and is working to create positive change. Month long initiatives are very helpful, but these problems exist every minute of every day.

So next month and beyond I encourage you, the business owner or business leader, to keep your mental health front of mind. Do your best to work reasonable hours and don’t ask more of yourself than you have to give. Take a break when you can and enjoy the springtime sun. It’s been a very hard couple of years, you deserve the time out.

Business will continue to be a challenge even when the pandemic is a distant memory. To continue to face this complex world, we must do what we can to approach the future from a place of mental strength and stability.

You can find out more about Business SA’s initiatives during Mental Health Month by visiting www.business-sa.com