MONDAY 19 JUL 2021 2:35 PM

PR ASSOCIATIONS JOIN FORCES TO INSPIRE HEARD MENTALITY WITH NEW MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN

The CIPR and PRCA have launched its first joint campaign aiming to inspire PR and comms professionals to take a positive action on mental health across the industry.

The pan-industry ‘Heard Mentality’ campaign launched ahead of Global Listening Day, aiming to encourage leaders to hear the concerns of colleagues, and hold constructive talks with their team members or peers about mental health.

Rachel Royall, chair of the CIPR Health Group, says, “For too long we’ve accepted that high stress is just the way it is, but it doesn’t need to be that way. The cost of poor mental health is too high from a human and a financial perspective. We can do better and take action to improve the environment our industry operates in and in turn respect diversity and help talent to flourish.”

Together the PR associations are challenging the entire workforce including in-house, agency and independent practitioners, to host conversations in the week beginning 13 September. The CIPR and PRCA are also releasing a starter pack for individuals and organisations to help guide discussions.

Joint research from the associations revealed that 90% of PR professionals admitted having poor mental health in the last 12 months. The campaign will encourage professionals to ‘join the heard,’ making the mental health a collective industry challenge and ensuring members feel supported to talk about and address their wellbeing. 

Francis Ingham, director general of the PRCA and chief executive of the ICCO, says, “I’ll be candid - there have been times over the past year or so when my own mental health has hit rock bottom. I’m not embarrassed to say so. We need to speak honestly and openly about this. It’s time for a step change in how we address mental health. This campaign can be the start of meaningful progress - we need to stop, listen and act on the concerns of our colleagues.”

Sign up to receive a conversation starter pack and gain more information about the campaign here. The associations are encouraging people to continue the conversation on social media using the hashtag #HeardMentality.