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A recent study has found that 45% of freelancers in the UK experienced a decline in their mental health during 2024, a year fraught with difficulties. Only 6% of freelancers felt supported by the government, highlighting a critical lack of assistance for the self-employed community.
The findings, published by Leapers, a project focused on freelancers’ mental health, revealed that nearly half of freelancers reported worsening mental health over the past year, driven by challenges such as the rising cost of living.
Financial instability added to the strain, with 71% of freelancers reporting late payments from clients. Even more troubling, 72% said they were “ghosted,” where clients abruptly stopped responding – sometimes partway through a project or before paying for completed work.
The lack of adequate mental health support was another pressing issue, with over two-thirds of freelancers stating they did not know where to turn for help. Government support also came under scrutiny, with only 6% of freelancers feeling that micro-businesses received sufficient assistance in 2024.
Isolation and loneliness were common themes, with only 10% of respondents saying they did not feel disconnected during the year. Additionally, nearly one-third of freelancers revealed that self-employment was not their preferred choice but a necessity due to factors such as redundancy or the need for flexible work arrangements as carers, parents, or individuals with disabilities.
“It is estimated there are over 2 million freelancers in the UK, who deliver over £160bn to the British economy, yet they don’t have access to adequate support for their mental health – which will undoubtedly have an impact on the already stretched NHS if their mental health continues to decline,” said Matthew Knight, founder of Leapers, which has been researching freelancers’ mental health since 2019.
“We’re calling upon anyone who works with freelancers to understand the challenges and gaps in support their workforce are facing, and ask, ‘What can we do to better support our workforce?’ We’d love to see the UK Government actively engaging with freelancers and providing better signposting and support for the unique set of challenges the self-employed face,” Knight added.
The complete findings are available on the Leapers website and at www.freelancing.support, a newly launched online platform offering resources and advice for freelancers on topics such as mental health and wellbeing.
Shib Mathew, co-founder of freelancing.support and former founder of the UK’s largest freelancing marketplace, commended Leapers’ work: “The work that Leapers project has done over the years in championing good mental health and wellbeing is an asset to the freelance and self-employed community.”