Majority of small business owners prioritize mental health since onset of pandemic

Results of a recently released poll revealed that 77% of small business owners said they have prioritized mental health since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey was conducted by Incfile, a company that assists in online business formation and startup services.

Among other findings of the poll, 88% of respondents admitted that a lack of sleep is a significant contributor to mental health issues, 70% reported an unequal distribution of household responsibilities and child care contributed to their mental concerns, with 60% chiming in to reveal social media is a trigger.

Per a release, 65% of entrepreneurs who answered cited struggles with anxiety, 52% cited wrestling with depression, 24% revealed issues related to ADHD, and 17% struggled with substance use.

Time, money and energy were also mentioned as triggers for mental health issues, with 31% of respondents reporting that handling finances is their biggest trigger and 27% citing time management and burnout.

“There is no question that mental health issues continue to take a toll on the small business community,” Dustin Ray, chief growth officer and co-CEO of Incfile, said in the release. “It’s very encouraging to hear that 77% of our small business community is prioritizing their mental health.”

The majority of small business owners are working to support the mental health of their employees, according to the release, with 33% reporting they offer flexible hours and time off for mental health and 29% saying they offer benefits and counseling to employees.

A total of 17% said they do not offer mental health benefits but would like to if it were less expensive. Additionally, only 12% of small business owners said these are not services they’re interested in providing, while 9% reported not knowing where to begin to provide said services.