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Mental health is crucial for our ability to individually and collectively communicate and interact with one another. Those working in the communication industry can positively play a part in changing the conversation on mental health, especially in a post-pandemic world.
Here are five important tips to keep in mind when communicating with people who may be having problems:
It is not what you say, but how you say it. Keep in mind that many people suffer mentally, and, hence, proper framing is crucial when communicating. Align all your client messaging in your communication materials with that.
It is incredibly important to make sure that we are functioning as one unit. Although it is already common in the communication industry, herd mentality is crucial to highlight; after all, there is no ‘I’ in team!
It is one of the critical points in communication, and it is vital to listen to your clients. Focus on their objectives and goals and continuously engage in friendly conversation, especially if you think they may need your expertise. We often find ourselves sitting in briefing rooms with clients who know what they want, but not necessarily what they need. Your role here would be to listen, advise and counsel since their primary reason for onboarding a communication agency is to benefit from your expert opinions.
Your client may frequently want immediate results and goals to be achieved. However, you will have to guide them to focus on seeing the bigger picture. Once you know what that is, start working on the roadmap and on defining target markets and audiences.
Always remember that you are your client’s partner. Take a real-life situation as an example. Let’s say you want to go to a gym and have two options for a trainer:
One who is an expert but whose emphasis is on his own goals to make more money and gain more clients. One who is an expert but is motivated by, and shares, your goals.
Whom would you choose? By showing your client that you are genuinely their partner, sharing the common goal will yield better results for both parties, and you will soar.
Mental health awareness has become increasingly popular in the communication industry, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic and on World Mental Health Day. In 2020 alone, mentions of World Mental Health Day sparked substantial conversation, with almost one million mentions on the day itself and around 1.5 million tweets throughout the week, 46% of which were positive.
Psychology plays a big part in mental health, especially during pandemic-like circumstances. Your emotions, including fear, worry, happiness, calmness, and anger, among others are important. In order to properly ensure that you are in control of your own mental health, you need to communicate better.
Most people in the communication industry, whether in public relations, social media, or advertising, have been fortunate to have been able to work remotely, even after the world started opening up again. This reduces stress and anxiety levels of leaving ‘safe spaces,’ being prone to testing positive, and interacting with potential positive cases.
Mental health is an issue that should not be taken lightly. If you are struggling, consider informing your employer, talking to your friends and loved ones, or even seeing a psychologist.
According to the 2020 ‘Continuing the Conversation: Mental Wellbeing in Public Relations’ report issued by the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) and Opinium, 59% of PR practitioners who had mental health struggles informed their employers, and 72% of those who took time off for mental health struggles were honest in the reason for their time off.
These numbers are significant, especially at a time where mental health is stigmatized globally, and people are being bullied or berated when they open up about them. It may not seem significant to you, but take it from a fellow PR practitioner, who suffered from them: it is, and being supported by my loved ones helped tremendously.
Antoine Boghos is Senior Account Manager at Cicero & Bernay Public Relations, an independent PR agency headquartered in Dubai offering new-age public relations consultancy to the UAE and across the MENA region. | www.cbpr.me