Farm owners under pressure

Angela Deans knows all too well how work stress can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety.

The West Coast dairy farmer said managing a small business was demanding and taking time out wasn’t always possible.

‘‘Especially in a farming context when you have no-one to milk the cows, or feed the animals. If you don’t do the work, no one will,’’ she said.

‘‘A lot of people in this industry feel trapped. They don’t see a way out because they have no plans to take up something else.’’

Deans is among the 31 per cent of small and medium business owners who reported having had a mental health condition since starting or taking over their business, according to accounting software provider MYOB.

Of those, 59 per cent were affected by depression and around 40 per cent had experienced anxiety.

The tech company’s latest Business Monitor snapshot showed women were more likely to report a mental health condition – 39 per cent compared to 26 per cent of men. Deans said farming was physically and mentally tough and a lack of support, the loss of staff, and the inability to take extended periods of leave only made things harder.

‘‘I lost my brother when I was living and working in Southland, but I couldn’t take the appropriate amount of time off to process my loss,’’ she said. ‘‘Which is part of the reason my husband and I moved to Greymouth – we wanted to be closer to family, to our support network.’’

MYOB country manager Ingrid CroninKnight said small business owners put a lot of pressure on themselves to perform, maintain their business, pay staff and earn a living, which could lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety.

‘‘Owning and managing a small business can be extremely demanding and lonely,’’ Cronin-Knight said.

‘‘Putting in long hours, skipping meals and cutting back on sleep to get things done can have a significant impact on the body and the mind – leading to greater stress, anxiety and depression.’’

More than a quarter (27 per cent) of those surveyed said stress from their business had a large to extreme impact on other aspects of their life and relationships, while just 7 per cent said stress had no impact.

Anxiety New Zealand Trust psychologist Rachael Chalmers said the work involved in owning or managing a small business often spilled into family or home life, leaving little room for self-care.

‘‘Stress and isolation often lead to anxiety, depression or burnout, and can have an impact on an individual’s relationships and connections,’’ Chalmers said.