Introduction: The pandemic has caused significant stress and anxiety among workers in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) due to economic uncertainty, social isolation, and the necessity to adapt to new working methods.
Aim: This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of SME employees and offers risk management strategies based on an analysis of the literature.
Materials and Methods: Using keywords, a literature review of emerging workplace risks related to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and approaches to addressing them was conducted.
Results: The analyses of existing literature identify the primary mental health challenges faced by employees, including increased levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. In response to these challenges, various strategies for supporting mental health are considered, such as psychological support programs, stress management training, and creating a supportive work environment.
Conclusion: The article emphasizes the importance of prioritizing mental health as a key factor for businesses' resilience and efficiency and the need to implement innovation and flexibility to overcome the crisis.
Pierce M, Hope H, Ford T, Hatch S, Hotopf M, John A, et al. Mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal probability sample survey of the UK population. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020 Oct;7(10):883-92. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30308-4.
Fancourt D, Steptoe A, Bu F. Trajectories of anxiety and depressive symptoms during enforced isolation due to COVID-19 in England: a longitudinal observational study. Lancet Psychiatry. 2021 Feb;8(2):141-9. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30482-X.
Bu F, Steptoe A, Fancourt D. Loneliness during a strict lockdown: Trajectories and predictors during the COVID-19 pandemic in 38,217 United Kingdom adults. Soc Sci Med. 2020 Nov;265:113521. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113521.
Varga TV, Bu F, Dissing AS, Elsenburg LK, Bustamante JJH, Matta J, et al. Loneliness, worries, anxiety, and precautionary behaviours in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal analysis of 200,000 Western and Northern Europeans. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2021 Mar;2:100020. doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2020.100020.
Bogdanov D. The consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and adults. Scientific Researches of the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria-Plovdiv, series B. Natural Sciences and the Humanities. 2022;21:96-107.
Xiong J, Lipsitz O, Nasri F, Lui LMW, Gill H, Phan L, et al. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population: A systematic review. J Affect Disord. 2020 Dec 1;277:55-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.001.
Castro VM, Gunning FM, McCoy TH, Perlis RH. Mood Disorders and Outcomes of COVID-19 Hospitalizations. Am J Psychiatry. 2021 Jun;178(6):541-7. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20060842.
Erschens R, Adam SH, Schröpel C, Diebig M, Rieger MA, Gündel H, et al. Improving Well-Being and Fostering Health-Oriented Leadership among Leaders in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): A Systematic Review. Healthcare (Basel). 2024 Feb 17;12(4):486. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12040486.
COVID -19 infection and long COVID – guide for managers | Safety and health at work EU-OSHA [Internet]. osha.europa.eu. Available from: https://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/covid-19-infection-and-long-covid-guide-managers
Anttila T, Härmä M, Oinas T. Working hours - tracking the current and future trends. Ind Health. 2021 Oct 5;59(5):285-292. doi: 10.2486/indhealth.2021-0086.
Bannai A, Tamakoshi A. The association between long working hours and health: a systematic review of epidemiological evidence. Scand J Work Environ Health 2014 Jan;40(1):5-18.doi: 10.5271/sjweh.3388.
Virtanen M, Jokela M, Madsen IE, Magnusson Hanson LL, Lallukka T, Nyberg ST, et al. Long working hours and depressive symptoms: systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies and unpublished individual participant data. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2018 May 1;44(3):239-50. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.3712.
Moreno CRC, Marqueze EC, Sargent C, Wright Jr KP, Ferguson SA, Tucker P. Working Time Society consensus statements: Evidence-based effects of shift work on physical and mental health. Ind Health. 2019 Apr 1;57(2):139-57. doi: 10.2486/indhealth.SW-1.
Härmä M, Karhula K, Työterveyslaitos. Working hours, health, well-being and participation in working life: Current knowledge and recommendations for health and safety. 2020 Jan 1.
Luka B. Coronavirus anxiety and exhaustion among Polish front-line healthcare workers– the mediation effect of insomnia. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2021 May 27;34(2):263-73.doi: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01745.
He L, Wei D, Yang F, Zhang J, Cheng W, Feng J, et al. Functional Connectome Prediction of Anxiety Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Am J Psychiatry. 2021 Jun;178(6):530-540. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20070979.
Bakracheva M, Samfirov M, Kolarova Ts, Sofronieva E. Life in times of crisis (COVID-19);2020.
Wynne R, De Broeck V, Vandenbroek K, Park A-La. Promoting mental health in the workplace: guidance to implementing a comprehensive approach [Internet]. ResearchGate. unknown; 2014. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277476748
M. Spronken, Brouwers M, Vermunt JK, Arends I, W. G. M. Oerlemans, van, et al. Return to work trajectories among employees with mental health problems: Insights from longitudinal sickness absence data and a multi-stakeholder expert meeting [Internet]. Tilburg University Research Portal. IOSH; 2020. Available from: https://research.tilburguniversity.edu/en/publications/return-to-work-trajectories-among-employees-with-mental-health-pr
Bes I, Shoman Y, Al-Gobari M, Rousson V, Guseva Canu I. Organizational interventions and occupational burnout: a meta-analysis with focus on exhaustion. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2023 Nov;96(9):1211-23. doi: 10.1007/s00420-023-02009-z.
