Anele Ndebele
The conversation surrounding mental health is not prevalent in the South African public relations industry, which is worrisome as public relations is a demanding field. Public relations practitioners are considered magicians in the creative field. They must come up with ideas, sell their ideas, be persuasive, and keep track of the latest trends and news 24/7, ultimately pulling a rabbit out of a hat with every campaign. That can be a lot of pressure and can put them at risk of heavy consumption of negative media and can make it hard for them to switch off completely.
Mental health is defined as our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
Many psychologists often use analogies that describe mental health in a physical state so that it is better understood. For example, depression can be compared to a broken-down car needing fuel and regular servicing to work properly.
Unfortunately, we can easily take our cars to the mechanic, but when we have a depressive episode, we ignore our need to be cared for when we can just as easily look for a therapist to provide our minds with the best care. We need to be a bit kinder to ourselves and our mind when it needs attention and, most importantly, when it needs a break.
It is then very important that industry leaders take on the responsibility of acknowledging and addressing the mental health issues that are apparent in the public relations field. There are several initiatives that can be done. Taking action to not only help reduce mental health issues amongst staff but also to prevent them in the first place is vital.
The World Economic Forum has highlighted five steps that organisations can take to create a healthy workplace, including:
Awareness of the workplace environment and how it can be adapted to promote better mental health for different employees.
Learning from the motivations of organisational leaders and employees who have taken action.
Not reinventing the wheel by being aware of what other companies who have taken action have done.
Understanding the opportunities and needs of individual employees in helping to develop better policies for workplace mental health.
Awareness of sources of support and where people can find help.
A company system of coping mechanisms is also very important as it allows for quick action when employees need a “pick me up'' and encourages a safe space for employees who feel overwhelmed. Although not all coping strategies can work for everyone, It is important to aim to do better and educate employees.
This mental health awareness month, we encourage you to educate yourself on mental health and how these issues can be alleviated. We encourage you to check in every once in a while and take your mind in for servicing so that you can show up as your best self as often as possible.