Sunshine Coast businesses reveal mental health impacts of Covid-19

A travel agency owner has opened up on the stresses and anxiety felt in the past 12 months as a new business survey reveals heartbreaking findings.

An experienced business owner has opened up on the stress and anxiety throughout a heartbreaking year of closing agencies and cutting staff.

Travel Associates co-owner Neil Playford has taken desperate measures to keep the business open including closing Noosa and Hervey Bay agencies, borrowing plenty of money and cutting 24 staff.

The Sunshine Coast father of two is among more than 100 business people to reveal the mental-health impacts in a survey to identify Covid-19’s toll.

Researchers found Covid-19 was to blame for an “impending mental health crisis” among business owners.

The survey of Caloundra and Kawana businesses found one third of owners and operators often felt depressed, down or hopeless and were becoming increasingly vulnerable.

Mr Playford said owning travel agencies had been a dream job for him and wife Therese but the stresses of border closures had taken away the enjoyment they once felt from work.

Travel Associates owner Neil Playford has closed two of his four travel agencies and cut 24 staff in a bid to remain open during the Covid-19 pandemic. Picture: Tegan Annett

“We went from having 34 staff and a happy environment, a great business in early 2020 … to having any new income stopped and the whole thing just went into reverse,” he said.

“We’ve been affected by anxiety without a doubt.

“We’ve had to borrow significant amounts of money to get the business to this point.

“We have invested everything we have into growing this and we have wonderful staff … it’s just a matter of when we can get back to the business we loved.”

The Caloundra Chamber of Commerce and University of the Sunshine Coast research investigated how Covid-19 had affected the mental health and wellbeing of business owners.

Chief investigator Dr Rory Mulcahy said it found almost 30 per cent indicated that for several days a week they had little interest or pleasure in doing things.

University of the Sunshine Coast senior marketing lecturer Dr Rory Mulcahy and NightQuarter owner Michelle Christoe were involved in research on the mental health toll Covid-19 had on business people.

“In another finding, 44 per cent felt their business was financially vulnerable as a result of the pandemic,” he said.

Dr Mulcahy said the survey results were likely to be replicated across the region and state.

“Even with this sample size, we are seeing significant impacts on business health and wellbeing,” he said.

The hardest-hit sector was retail, tourism and hospitality, with twice as many respondents reporting they experienced greater financial difficulties since the pandemic began.

NightQuarter owner Michelle Christoe said she had fought off depression and anxiety.

“(I) have worked hard to maintain my mental health through wellness programs and counselling,” she said.

The Birtinya venue had $3m worth of events rescheduled or cancelled during 2021.

Mr Playford said JobKeeper was pivotal to remaining open but the travel industry needed confidence and certainty to bounce back.

He urged residents to buy local and engage a travel agent for holidays.

The business now focused on domestic travel experiences with Uluru being one of their new key destinations.

“We need your help now more than ever,” Mr Playford said.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast businesses reveal mental health impacts of Covid-19