Mental health at work is not a seasonal concern. For women running businesses, leading teams, or working freelance in the UK, the summer months can bring their own pressures: covering colleagues’ holidays, managing childcare, hitting mid-year targets, or simply trying to switch off when the sun is shining. Understanding how to protect your wellbeing is a business skill, not a personal luxury.
The World Health Organization defines mental health as a state of wellbeing that helps individuals cope with daily life and significant events. It is not simply the absence of a diagnosed condition. You can experience low wellbeing without a clinical disorder, and you can live with a condition while maintaining good wellbeing. For women in business across the UK, recognising this distinction matters because it shapes the support you seek and the adjustments you request.
Why mental health at work matters for UK women
Work can build confidence, structure, and purpose. It can also erode wellbeing when demands exceed resources. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported in 2024 that 776,000 workers in Great Britain were suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety, and that these conditions accounted for 50% of all work-related ill health. The same HSE data show 17.1 million working days were lost to work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2023/24.
Women are not immune to these pressures. Research consistently shows that women juggle a disproportionate share of caring responsibilities alongside paid work, and self-employed women often lack the formal HR support available in larger organisations. The ONS has tracked the rise of self-employed women over 50, a group that may face isolation, irregular income, and blurred boundaries between home and work.
Common triggers for poor wellbeing at work
Recognising the source of pressure is the first step to addressing it. The most common workplace triggers include:
- Burnout. Chronic exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced performance often follow long hours, unclear boundaries, or the feeling that you can never do enough. For home-based business owners, the workspace and living space can merge until there is no clear off-switch.
- Excessive workload. Unrealistic deadlines, understaffing, or the founder’s habit of wearing every hat in the business can create persistent stress.
- Poor relationships. Bullying, harassment, or a lack of support from colleagues, clients, or managers undermines psychological safety.
- Job insecurity. Irregular contracts, late payments, or fears about the future of the business feed anxiety.
- Isolation. Freelancers and sole traders can go days without meaningful professional contact, which magnifies worry and reduces perspective.
Your legal rights and employer responsibilities
If you are employed, the Equality Act 2010 protects you from discrimination if you have a mental health condition that amounts to a disability. A mental health condition may be classed as a disability if it has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your normal day-to-day activities. Employers must consider reasonable adjustments, which could include flexible hours, changes to your workload, or a quieter workspace.
ACAS, the advisory service for workplace relations, provides guidance on managing mental health at work and resolving disputes. Even if your condition does not meet the legal definition of a disability, employers still have a common-law duty of care to protect your health and safety, including your psychological health.
If you are self-employed, you do not have an employer to make adjustments for you, but you still have options. You can build your own boundaries, choose clients who respect them, and structure your working week around your energy levels. You can also refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies services in England, or access equivalent services through the NHS in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Practical steps to protect your wellbeing at work
Small, consistent actions usually outperform one-off wellbeing initiatives. Here are practical steps that work in a UK business context.
1. Name what you are feeling
Suppressing stress does not remove it. Notice early signs such as irritability, poor sleep, difficulty concentrating, or dreading Monday. Naming the emotion reduces its power and helps you decide what to do next.
2. Set and defend boundaries
Decide your working hours and communicate them clearly. Turn off email notifications after a set time. If you work from home, create a physical or symbolic end-of-day routine, such as closing the laptop, changing clothes, or taking a short walk. These boundaries protect the wellness of your whole workplace, even if that workplace is your kitchen table.
3. Plan and prioritise
Overwhelm often comes from trying to hold too many tasks in your head. Use a simple system: list everything, identify the two or three tasks that will move the business forward, and schedule the rest. Tools such as Trello, Microsoft To Do, or a paper notebook can all work. The method matters less than the habit.
4. Move your body
Physical activity is one of the most evidence-based ways to reduce stress and lift mood. You do not need a gym membership. A 20-minute walk, gardening, or a short online class can increase dopamine and serotonin levels and break the cycle of rumination.
5. Build connection
Isolation is a risk factor for poor mental health, especially for self-employed women. Schedule regular contact with peers, mentors, or networking groups. Even a weekly video call with another founder can provide perspective and reduce the sense that you are facing challenges alone.
6. Practise mindfulness
Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment without judgment. It can be as simple as three slow breaths before a difficult meeting, a guided meditation using a free app, or a mindful walk. The NHS recommends mindfulness as one approach to managing stress.
When to seek professional help
Self-care has limits. If low mood, anxiety, or exhaustion persist for more than a couple of weeks and start to affect your work, relationships, or daily life, seek professional support. In England, you can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies without seeing a GP first. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, similar services are available through the NHS.
For immediate support, Samaritans offer a free 24-hour helpline on 116 123. If you are in crisis and cannot keep yourself safe, call 999 or go to A&E.
Conclusion: make wellbeing a business priority
Mental health at work is not a sign of weakness or a topic to save for Stress Awareness Month. It is a core part of running a sustainable business and building a career you can maintain. By understanding your rights, recognising the early signs of strain, and putting simple boundaries in place, you protect both your wellbeing and your business.
Action steps:
- Audit your current workload and identify one boundary you can set this week.
- Check whether your mental health condition could qualify for reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010.
- Schedule one conversation with a peer, mentor, or professional to share how you are really doing.
