‘You don’t look sick’

‘It’s probably hormones’

These are the responses to women and non-binary people’s pain uncovered by a new campaign from SheSays, the non-profit organisation championing gender equality in the creative industries.

According to a SheSays study into hidden illness and disability in the creative industry, 83% of women and non-binary employees with invisible health challenges or disabilities have actively chosen not to disclose it at work.

The research reveals that 62% of people actively hide their pain because of fear and prejudice at work. While over half (52%) believe sharing their pain could limit promotion and other opportunities for progress.

The study underlines the stark reality of mental health in the creative industries; with 51% of respondents hiding mental health conditions. The research underlines that despite the rhetoric of ‘bringing your whole self to work’ the reality remains that 40% of women and non-binary people in the creative industries are hiding Neurodiverse conditions.

To break the silence SheSays has partnered with JCDecaux Community Channel to launch the campaign. With real quotes and statistics such as the fact that ‘1 in 2 women feel their pain was dismissed because of their gender’.

The campaign aims to highlight the misconception around hidden conditions. The aim of the creative is to help those living with a hidden health challenge feel seen and understood and to educate employers, so they realise what many people in their businesses are dealing with. By opening the lines of communication for employees to feel safe to talk about their hidden illness or disability, these invisible barriers can be removed.

The campaign will run across 250 digital sites across the UK, which could include premium sites such as the M4 Torch, Shoreditch Showcase, and Marylebone Tower.

Recent research by Harvard Business Review found that managers that were empathetic and willing to listen to their team member’s experiences and accommodate their requests were more successful leaders and the teams reported a 63% increase in wellbeing and 71% increase in engagement compared to the average. SheSays has created a dedicated resources page to support the campaign for those with a hidden illness or disability as well as employers to use.

The campaign asks allies to take three simple steps when it comes to addressing pain rooted in belief, education and advocating. As SheSays explains: “People with hidden health conditions and disabilities often face discrimination and stigma - so speaking up can be challenging. If you can say something or change something at your work, you should. We all need to advocate for each other.”

Amy Dick, UK President of SheSays, added: “We created this campaign with compassion and empathy, drawing on many people’s lived experiences, to raise awareness of what thousands of people feel the need to hide daily. Nobody’s pain should go unnoticed or unsupported. Thanks to our OOH campaign with JCDecaux’s Community Channel we will be bringing this important message to people across the UK.”

She continued: “Our campaign and the resources that we’ve created aims to help people with hidden health conditions and the people around them to better understand their colleagues. We also hope businesses will make positive steps to adapt so processes are in place for both physiologically and psychologically safe conversations to happen. All these actions will benefit both employees and employers.”

As a not-for-profit, SheSays Creative team produced the hard-hitting campaign in their free time. The team included Creative Directors, Mikaela Dragon and Ruby Norman-Curran, Creative Director and Social Strategist, Melissa Wong. Creative, Opal Turner, Designers, Ana Grigorovici and Emma Kate Wormley. Strategy and communication support was provided by PRcentric\s Charlotte Read. The campaign was overseen by SheSays UK President & Executive Producer, Amy Dick.