A Bay of Plenty butcher says more business owners need to talk about mental health after he worked every day for two years.
Doug Jarvis, owner of two Doug Jarvis Butchers specialty stores in Mt Manganui and Pāpāmoa, says he was working seven days a week because he was down eight staff.
On top of that, earlier in the year, Jarvis, who has been a butcher for 38 years, came close to breaking after break-ins and robberies in their stores.
“It’s just the depression and how things get the better of you,” he says.
“And it’s not just me, but a lot of people I talk to.”
The MYOB 2022 Business Monitor, a survey of more than 1,000 local small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners, found that about one-third (32%) had experienced a mental health condition since starting or taking over their business .
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Of those who have experienced a mental health condition, 85 percent reported being affected by stress, while 71 percent say they have experienced anxiety and 39 percent have experienced depression.
The repercussions of COVID-19 continue to have the greatest impact on general well-being, followed by lack of sleep, heavy workload and political uncertainty.
In May, Jarvis’s blood pressure reached dangerously high levels due to stress.
“It just got worse, and worse, and worse. And obviously your state of mind affects your health.”
After Jarvis told him Stuff he hadn’t had a day off in over two years due to understaffing, had people from all over the country submit job applications, and even retired butchers offered to work for free, so he could get a break.
His staff then got together and rearranged their shifts to cover for Jarvis and surprised him with a vacation to Brisbane to see his son for the first time in two years.
“It was excellent. I really, really needed it. It’s amazing how you don’t realize how much you need it.”
Despite the significant proportion of SME owners or leaders experiencing mental health issues, the research highlighted that the majority of SMEs do not discuss mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.
Photo: John Borren/SunLive.
“It’s just depression and how things get the better of you,” says Doug Jarvis.
Jarvis says he has a one-on-one meeting with staff who may be having issues, and he talked about it a lot in the community as well.
“I try to be a supportive person where I can. I think it’s just being there to make sure you can do something for these people.”
He says that all companies should talk about mental health in the workplace.
“It should not be a taboo subject. Everyone should talk about it. It’s just talking to that one person that could make a difference.
“Just communicating with people, that’s the main thing. Don’t be afraid to speak up.
MYOB spokesperson Jo Tozer says business owners have a multitude of additional challenges to overcome on top of the usual pressures they face, which have a direct impact on their mental health and well-being.
“Given the current economic and employment challenges, it is understandable that SMBs feel overwhelmed, leading to increased stress and anxiety, but it is important for business owners and leaders to remember that they are not alone,” says Tozer.
“We’ve seen that more than half of SMB owners and decision-makers choose to socialize with friends and family to help improve their mental well-being, and this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week focuses on the importance of reconnecting with the people and places that give us a boost.”
