We can’t fix the mental ill-health epidemic without breaking down the ingrained stigma

Steph Brown wants to understand the mental health impact on junior- to mid-level roles within the public relations industry.

Poor mental health within the public relations industry has become overwhelmingly worrying. Last year, the PRCA and CIPR found that nine in ten practitioners had struggled with their mental wellbeing. Compare this with the average workforce, where 65% of which struggled with their mental health during the same period, and the severity of the problem becomes apparent.

I am one of the 90% cited in the research.

However, my personal mental health story begins many years prior to the pandemic, almost a decade ago. And I am sure that I am not the only one who has battled with long-term mental ill-health.

So, where am I going with this?

There is still an ingrained stigma in the workplace about talking about past experiences that creates barriers to receiving the support necessary to thrive as well as the protection against relapse.

I want to understand how we, as an industry, can work towards a stigma-free environment that enables all – employees and employers alike – to feel that they can be open and honest about who they are and what they need.

What I’ve found so far

While the sample size is not yet fully representative of the whole public relations industry, the poll serves as an adject reminder – if needed – that more needs to be done not only to tackle the current epidemic of mental ill-health, but to break down the stigma that continues to surround mental illness in general.

We spend 70 per cent, and more, of our time at work. The idea that we can leave everything at the front door and become a brand-new version of ourselves once we step into the office is, frankly, ludicrous.

Until the day comes where we feel comfortable to tell our employer on day one where we need support, or when employers can be candid with their team about how they are feeling, then we’ll continue to swim through a murky bog of uncertainty, worry and shame around mental ill-health.

Please follow this link if you would like to take part in the research that I am conducting.

Steph Brown is a senior public relations manager at Clearly PR.