Time to confront the mental illness taboo in our industry.
(This is an article published in Campaign on 11th October)
Adland must act now, an employee from Lean Mean Fighting Machine, who suffers from depression, says.
In many ways, I'm a lot like a professional footballer. There's my athletic physique, my fleet-of-foot co-ordination and the two Bentleys I park outside my tiny flat in South-East London. Most agree it's a wonder I'm not playing for Crewe Alex more often, especially now Dario's back.
Despite my natural flair for the beautiful game, there has only been one occasion when my world and the Professional Footballers' Association's have crossed. That was on the occasion of my nervous breakdown.
I'm an employee at an advertising agency in London. I'm good at what I do and I am someone who suffers from severe depression and anxiety. At the beginning of 2012, I lost control of my illness and had a breakdown. I was extracted from London's adland for an undefined term. While I was off work, my state of mind meant I didn't leave the house. I slept through spring and, on several occasions, weighed up whether I'd be better off committing suicide. My recovery took months. But I did recover.
This industry of progressive, interesting and interested people isn't famed for its progressive approach to human resources. That's not the case where I work. My agency of beautiful misfits gets along just fine in that department. I was backed all the way by its management team and my colleagues. It was touching. When I did make it back to match-fitness, my agency still believed in me enough to allow me back to work. I was touched. My experience of depression was handled by sympathetic, enlightened and experienced agency folk.
While I was "on leave", Gary Speed committed suicide. Depression was cited as having set the co-ordinates of his path towards taking his own life. It was a tragic loss for his family and his fans. His death saw depression being talked about on the front pages of newspapers. Suddenly, I was reading about someone else who had depression. Not the poor sod in every NHS leaflet, but a man of honour and responsibility. Slowly, stories came to the surface of other sportsmen's struggle with the illness. At the time, I can remember thinking that the only good thing about any of this horrendous loss and illness is that depression is being talked about. Finally.
The following summer, the PFA mailed every one of its members an information booklet on depression and anxiety. Its message was simple: being a footballer doesn't make you a superhuman. Despite the seemingly endless opportunities afforded by the trappings of a life led at the top of the sport - many people's dream job - footballers suffer from depression too. By God, it has killed one of the game's elder statesmen. I'm not a professional football player, but I did manage to get hold of a copy of the booklet in question via my Alderley Edge connection (I'm a Cheshire lad by trade). It's good. Really good. Simple, truthful and reassuring. It set me thinking.
At any one time in the UK, 21.5 per cent of women and 13.6 per cent of men will be suffering from depression or anxiety*. That means a number of your staff are probably struggling with something on the mild-to-severe scale. Depression is among the leading causes of disability, affecting about 151 million people globally at any one time**. Yep, that's a lot. More than what your last campaign reached. A lot of footballers, bank robbers, architects, nurses, financial consultants and account directors.
The problem with depression is that it's not visible. You don't wander into the office one day with the obvious effects of the illness written all over your face like shingles. It's not cool to talk about it at work for fear of being labelled a loon or, worse, a vibe-killer. Often, the first sign of something being wrong is when it's too late. That person breaks down, or worse.
The point is that we need to talk about this illness more. More people need to be comfortable with the fact that it exists, that they or their staff might suffer from it and that it is OK. They're not alone. There is help and support available. Frankly, if the PFA can inform, coach and support its members on the subject, it would be a shame if we broad-minded, creative, largely liberal folk can't do that too. We should be able to top their direct mail too, by the way. Do I believe we will stand up to the stigma? Not enough to put my name at the end of this article for fear of retribution or limiting my career long term. Wake up, adland. Wake up, UK.
* Adult Psychiatric Morbidity In England, 2007 (2009) edited by S McManus, H Meltzer, T Brugha et al ** The Global Burden Of Disease (2008) by the World Health Organization
5 comments
Here, here, well said and well put.
I’ve had a torrid year of anxiety and depression with panic attacks thrown in for good measure. Work made it worse but I had no other choice but to keep on going. I visited therapists who helped but ultimately I felt alone in not knowing where to turn to find out which treatment would be most beneficial.
Not talking about these things is a very British trait I feel, stiff upper lip and all that, just get on with it ol’ bean, don’t make a scene you big wuss. I have a Spanish colleague who went through a similar thing and he was unashamedly telling all and sundry about his predicaments and the reason why he was taking time off every week (therapy). This helped me to realise I wasn’t alone but ultimately I could never do the same and give the real reasons. Interesting to note: The Spaniard is still well thought of my his peers and recently received a promotion so it appears there’s no retribution, at this agency at least.
I do feel that this can often lead to a catch 22 situation. Often when I’m depressed I throw myself into my work more and more because it’s one thing I can rely upon – I’m good at what I do. Of course this leaves little time for the other things that make you happy… your friends, your family… life, and then the vicious circle continues.
Like you say it’s time for Adland to wake-up and put in the place help for those that need it, I for one would be behind it all the way.
Heartfelt and courageous share.
There is another who you may or may not be aware of that I add here, having thought it to be an interesting means of coping and, by all accounts effective for many…
http://ihadablackdog.blogspot.co.uk/
Been there, didn’t like it. I had some support from my company, but not useful support. I eventually saw a therapist. They offer a real world perspective on your situation which helps. Your partner supports you and those “in the trenches” with you will only agree with what you say.
Congrat’s to LMFM for supporting you!
Couldn’t have put it better myself. What people dont realise is that it is something you never actually get over -you just cope better. The worst thing as you say is that because of the stigma and or lack of understanding its not until its too late that it gets recognised and helped. Also being able to talk about it and be open and yourself, not to get allowances but understanding also helps. I would say that its not just ad land who dont get this – its most financially driven competitive industries. I have learnt to live and deal with it not with support from work but people who have helped and I wouldn’t change it – what makes me different is what makes me. Who is to say what is right and wrong anyway!
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