A new survey from freelancer and self-employed mental health project Leapers has revealed that the majority of people who moved into self-employment last year reported a positive impact on their mental health after going freelance.
The study found that 85 per cent of workers who became self-employed in 2022 said that their mental health improved after doing so. 54 per cent of new freelancers said that they opted to become self-employed in order to gain “more control” over their work.
The Leapers project is designed to tackle a lack of mental health support for freelancers, with 63 per cent saying they don’t feel they have an adequate level of mental health support at work. The project encourages businesses that hire freelancers to direct them to support resources, take steps to they are paid on time, communicate respectfully with them and offer feedback.
One of the key issues highlighted by Leapers’ research is a lack of government support for the self-employed, with just 11 per cent saying that they feel supported by the government. 72 per cent said they were concerned by regular changes in government leadership and on policy such as IR35 legislation. 87 per cent of freelancers polled by Leapers expressed concern over issues such as the rising cost of living and inflation, with 55 per cent saying they had considered leaving self-employment last year.
Commenting on the latest research, Leapers founder and Chief Freelance Officer Matthew Knight said: “There are definitely lots of benefits working for yourself, perhaps not having to deal with office politics, not having to commute into an office, being able to turn down work which doesn’t motivate you – but it’s pretty clear there are mental health benefits too.”
Regarding the mental health issues facing freelancers, Knight added: “Lots of our members come to self-employment and experience a bit of a shock when they suddenly realise they don’t have someone to chat to at work any more, or aren’t sure who they can ask questions of, or where they can get support from.”
“Working for yourself doesn’t mean working by yourself – and we want to make sure that everyone who is self-employed knows there are supportive communities and resources for those who are starting their own business. It’s so important to know where you can find support during that first year.”
However, Knight was also keen to highlight the optimism among freelancers: “78 per cent of our group say that self-employment is a sustainable way of working, and 74 per cent are optimistic about 2023 being a better year for them professionally. If you’ve got a good support network and proactively considering your own mental health at work, self-employment is a highly rewarding way of working.”
