“I struggle to find the balance between compassion and results when managing my team”
“The culture at my last place of work (a massive company) was so bullying, unkind and ruthless I resigned due to stress. I met someone last week who still works there who told me it’s given her PTSD. I felt the same.”
“The industry is not good at recognising and acting on mental health. Teams are under-resourced and ultimately client deadlines need to be met. We all need to do more to protect each other.”
Prioritising mental health in a target-driven environment is a complex challenge for the creative industries. As a service-led and results-driven industry, greater training and empathy when it comes to supporting the mental wellbeing of staff is vital as these three real voices from the industry, surfaced in the Bloom Booth of Truth last week at BloomFest reveal.
Yet, the good news is people within the industry are reaching out for help and support services are there. NABS, the support organisation for the advertising and media industry, is experiencing more and more demand for its services. Calls to the NABS Advice Line have increased by 22% from last year, with emotional health support being the main reason for people’s calls.
The creative industries have done a phenomenal job in removing the stigma surrounding mental health. Yet industry leaders must also ensure they’re taking the right steps to provide active wellbeing support for their employees, whether that’s in the form of training, enabling work/life balance or providing flexible working to empower a diverse workforce.
NABS has been at the forefront of workplace wellbeing for the advertising and media industry since its inception over 100 years ago. A driver for change in the industry as well as a source of support, NABS is set to hold its first-ever conference on workplace wellbeing on 12th November. Ahead of the event, Diana Tickell, NABS CEO, gives us her insight into NABS and wellbeing in the workplace.