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# How lockdown has affected the mental health of small business owners
- URL: https://www.birminghameastside.co.uk/how-lockdown-has-affected-the-mental-health-of-small-business-owners/
- Published: 2021-01-12T10:43:04.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-14T10:01:01.000Z
- Author: Aida Fofana
- Tags: Business, News, Health, #Migrated-1786701253228, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-14 09:54

Amid the second lockdown, **32%** of small business owners were concerned about the[ impact of the pandemic](https://www.worklifebenefits.uk/blog/small-businesses-face-a-mental-health-crisis?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk) on their mental wellbeing.

As the nation enters the second week of lockdown, Birmingham based [**KTREW tattoo**](https://www.ktrewtattoo.com/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk)studio owners **Ivy Trewartha-Bustamante** and **Kirstie Trewartha-Bustamante** express how lockdowns have impacted them.

> *"Real ups and downs. I think it's been the stop and start that has been really difficult on the business and mental health as well."*  
>  
> Kirstie

> "*The stopping and starting hasn't been easy, because when we do go back, I don't know about Kirstie, but I'm twice as nervous."*  
>  
> Ivy

### Anxiety in adapting the business

The [**Smallbusiness.co.uk**](https://smallbusiness.co.uk/small-business-owners-reveal-how-theyve-handled-mental-health-and-covid-19-2549883/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk) and **UK domain** survey also found **48%** said that COVID-19 had severely impacted their small business.

Also highlighting **27%** of small business owners worrying about adapting their business.

Worries around adapting, resonated with Ivy.

> *"So much anxiety comes with stopping and starting. I think it takes a lot of energy to get people through. Before \[the pandemic\] people turned up, you didn't have to worry too much.* 
>  
> *Whereas now you read all these rules, watch this video, don't do this, don't do that, bring this, sit here, don't go beyond the line, fill out this 10-page form, login to the track and trace here and put this mask on all this kind of thing.* 
>  
> *I think even getting through all that it's taken quite a lot of energy before you even start to tattoo."*  
>  
> Kirstie

Fortunately Kirstie and Ivy were [able to adapt ](https://youtu.be/jXCF1LR2aM4?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk)their business.

> *"We have been really lucky. We did receive some help from the government, which helped us to put towards buying stuff, in regards to making the place COVID secure"* 
>  
> *So most of the money had gone into that, which we were really grateful for because we needed it when we opened up in the summer* 
>  
> *But obviously, we can only speak for our business."*  
>  
> Ivy

### Calls for more support for small businesses

Further anxieties for small businesses were reported this week as the **Federation of Small Businesses** (FSB) [**survey**](https://www.fsb.org.uk/join-us.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA6Or%5FBRC%5FARIsAPzuer9ytn74xGKLTCkRf6DZh2e-dxAMEPneA1OM7S8xid6YBPkHiFQx0kcaAs9eEALw%5FwcB&ref=birminghameastside.co.uk) found more than **250,000 small businesses** could be at risk of collapse without further financial support from the government.

Despite the government's [**£4.6 billion**](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/46-billion-in-new-lockdown-grants-to-support-businesses-and-protect-jobs?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk) new lockdown grants, FSB chairman national chairman **Mike Cherry** described them as "disappointing".