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Mental health coaching service available for SMEs

by OnDeck Australia,   Dec 02, 2020

 

Small business owners will have access to free, evidence-based mental health coaching services under a Beyond Blue initiative backed by the Federal Government.

 

Beyond Blue is an Australian mental health and wellbeing support organisation. Under its NewAccess for Small Business service, coaches who themselves have a small business background will be trained to deliver evidence-based mental health support, free of charge, to small businesses around Australia via telehealth.

 

Two-thirds of small business owners say the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have negatively affected their mental health, according to Beyond Blue. In response, the Commonwealth Government pledged $6.5 million in the 2020-21 Budget to support mental health and wellbeing of small businesses impacted by COVID-19. This support includes a commitment of $4.26 million towards rolling out NewAccess for Small Business.

 

Beyond Blue Chair, the Hon Julia Gillard AC welcomed the investment, saying “We know that prevention and early intervention are the keys to protecting mental health and preventing the deterioration of stress, anxiety and depression. This is why early and proven support from NewAccess coaches who understand the small business community and the unique pressures they face is so important.”

 

Beyond Blue Deputy Chair Kate Carnell said people would not require a referral to use the service.

 

Ms Carnell, who is also Australia’s Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, added, “Excessive, long-term stress can increase the chance of developing a mental health condition, so enlisting a coach early and getting practical information about stress management can make a real difference.”

 

Beyond Blue will work with the small business community to establish the new service in the coming months. In the meantime, for SME owners considering investing in some mental health services or business coaching, there could be some valuable benefits. A 2014 report from Big 4 accounting firm PwC[1] found that for every $1 an employer spends on successfully implementing practical actions around mental health, there is an average benefit of $2.30.

 

For more information about NewAccess visit: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/newaccess.

 

The Beyond Blue Support Service is available via phone 24/7 on 1300 22 4636 or via beyondblue.org.au/get-support for online chat (3PM – 12AM AEST or email responses within 24 hours).

 

 

[1] https://www.headsup.org.au/docs/default-source/resources/beyondblue_workplaceroi_finalreport_may-2014.pdf

 

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Prepared by OnDeck Capital Australia Pty Ltd ABN 28 603 753 215 (“OnDeck”) for general information purposes only. Content may belong to or have originated from third parties and OnDeck takes no responsibility for the accuracy, validity, reliability or completeness of any information. Information current as at December 2020. You should not rely upon the material or information as a basis for making any business, financial or any other decisions. Loans issued in Australia are subject to the terms of a loan agreement issued by OnDeck. Loans are subject to lender approval. OnDeck® is a Registered Trademark. All rights reserved.

 

 

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