Last year, Everymind, Never Not Creative and UnLtd ran the first ever major scale study into the mental health in the creative, media and marketing industries. The results showed a prevalence of depression, stress and anxiety in our industry (56% showed signs of depression, 55% anxiety, 57% stress), notably higher than in the general population. The study also highlighted a clear issue around stigma – only a third felt that people wouldn’t be treated differently if they disclosed mental illness in our industry. And whilst 89% of us would be happy to work with someone who has been diagnosed with depression, only 29% would tell if they themselves had been diagnosed with depression. The study was just the first step to understand the issue so that we can start improving and making our industry more mentally healthy. Since the launch of the study, we have set up a task force – the Mentally Healthy Change Group – that has been busy working on various projects specifically focusing on empowering our industry to smash the stigma around mental health. What you’re holding in your hands is one of the projects that have come out of this group of passionate volunteers across our industry. The book was inspired by the Heart On My Sleeve Movement – a social purpose movement encouraging people to speak up about their mental health. In the following pages, you will find real and raw stories of some of the most senior leaders in our industry, opening up about their challenges with mental health. We hope that by reading the stories of others, we all feel more comfortable to speak up when we need help. A big than you to all the contributors for sharing your stories so openly and honestly and being part of making our industry more mentally healthy. If you need urgent help, please contact Lifeline on: 13 11 14
Andy & Nina Co-chairs of the Mentally Healthy Change Group
Andy Wright is the MD of Streamtime and Founder of Never Not Creative, a community for the wellbeing of individuals working in the creative industry.
Heart on my Sleeve Agencies Book Final V2.indd 5
Nina Nyman is the CMO of UnLtd, the social purpose organisation connecting the media, marketing and creative industry with charities helping children and young people at risk.
29/7/19 4:45 pm