I am writing this piece from what is likely to be a relatively unique perspective. As well as being a Creative Director at Mischief PR I am also a trained (and soon to be qualified) counsellor. I spend four days a week working in PR and every Monday volunteering at a drug and alcohol charity in Camberwell, South London. I have witnessed at first hand the power of offering support and compassion to those struggling with mental health and I believe the PR industry needs take these issues just as seriously as the ‘caring’ professions do. There is still a stigma surrounding mental health which means people find it hard to open up about it, especially in the work place and particularly in our industry with its 'work hard, play hard' mentality. However, there is no reason why PR should not become a ‘caring’ profession in its own right and not leave the task of supporting those with mental health issues solely to trained counsellors and psychotherapists. You may say, ‘But I’m not an expert in helping those with mental health issues’ and worry, ‘what if I do more harm than good?’ Well I can reassure you that you can make a difference, and it’s really not that difficult.
My counselling practice is based on the theory that if a client experiences acceptance, empathy and honesty from the counsellor then his or her emotional distress will lessen. I believe similar principles could – and should – be applied in the work place. Someone who is struggling with their mental health can often feel ‘less than’ and diminished. To feel – and be – accepted by those around them when they’re feeling terrible about themselves can be incredibly powerful. The same goes for empathy. To truly make an effort to understand what it must be like for your colleague who feels on the verge of a breakdown will make him or her feel less alone and more understood. Being honest is equally important. If you have a team member who is struggling with his or her mental health don’t make promises you can’t keep. Don’t tell them you take them off a client if you can’t or promise they can go on a three-month sabbatical if that’s not feasible. Be as honest as you can, don’t offer false hope and, instead, explore what can legitimately be done to help. These simple steps really aren’t that difficult and you might just make a huge difference to improving someone’s state of mind. Trust me, I’m a counsellor.