DESTIGMATIZING MENTAL HEALTH IN CREATIVE COMPANIES

From left to right: Rosa Sheng, Corinne Foxx, Katrina Gay and Kathy Delaney at Cannes Lions 2019.

By Kathy Delaney, Global Chief Creative Officer, Publicis Health

Excerpted from Muse by Clio:

Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins was so moved by the suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain that he sent a company-wide email about mental health. In this moving message he took some simple steps toward making his workplace stigma-free. His email encouraged his employees to ‘talk openly and extend compassion.’ It offered simple strategies such as listening more and encouraging someone to seek help. Robbins wrote, ‘Each of us has a role to play in ensuring that those suffering feel less afraid to ask for support in the moment they need it most. No one needs to go it alone.’

Robbins' letter inspired me, and made me consider the workplace I have created and how it might be improved for my more vulnerable team members. So what am I doing about it? At Publicis and Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness, I have an “open-door” policy—which is even easier in our new open-office layout. I make it known that I am here for my team, both for professional and personal challenges.

Read the full article on Muse by Clio, and follow Kathy on LinkedIn.