Mental health issues reported in small business owners due to financial pressures

Release date:
19 May 2025

FOI reference: FOI-2025-2828

You asked

I ask the following under the FOI Act 2000:

  • How many small business owners over the last 12 months have reported mental health issues (anxiety, depression) due to financial pressures?
  • How many small business staff over the last 12 months have experienced mental health issues (anxiety, depression) due to financial pressures?

We said

Thank you for your request.  

Unfortunately, we do not hold data on mental health issues in small business owners or staff due to financial pressures.

We have previous published data on the cost of living and depression in adults in 2022 and winter pressures which covers some elements of mental health which may be of interest:

Cost of living and depression in adults, Great Britain - Office for National Statistics 

The impact of winter pressures on different population groups in Great Britain - Office for National Statistics 

Data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study might be able to help in this enquiry.

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