More than thirty small business owners from across Bath and North East Somerset recently attended a unique health seminar aimed at managing stress at work.
The event, held at Bath Racecourse was jointly organised by The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Bath & North East Somerset Council’s public health and business growth teams and local mental health charity Bath Mind.
It brought together experts in mental health, business and leadership. Delegates also heard from local business leaders who shared their experiences of creating a healthy work environment.
Councillor Vic Pritchard, cabinet member for Adult Care, Health and Wellbeing and the council’s mental health champion, said: “No one is immune from stress and employees are often reluctant to raise their concerns for fear of discrimination. This can often result in prolonged absence or workers leaving their jobs.
“The particular challenge for owners of small businesses is that there is often the temptation to never switch off, but stress if prolonged and chronic can be a major risk factor for poor health. Understanding how to best manage stress is not only essential for your personal well-being it’s good for business too.”
Discussion during the event ranged from how to recognise stress, the legal obligations of employers to the mental health of staff, to the benefits of joining a professional networking group and making use of professional coaching or mentoring.
Louise Lees, from Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Public Health Team said: “We were delighted so many people attended the seminar and were encouraged to see how engaged everyone was.
“Awareness and understanding of the importance of good mental health is increasing, but we can all become better at managing stress both for ourselves, and for others that we manage or work with.
“We need to keep the conversation going by sharing experiences and practical tips on creating a healthy working environment and managing stress.”
