NABS tries to tackle modern day misery in adland on @moreaboutads https://t.co/cxFGIzBXZR pic.twitter.com/QWuIZ9YumU
— Will Corry (@slievemore) November 23, 2017
Today, NABS, the employee support organisation for the advertising and media industry, has launched a new model designed to revolutionise the way wellbeing is approached by the industry.
The SHEPARD Model has been developed in line with the latest research into neuroscience and aims to give a complete view of wellbeing, and all its component parts, to allow individuals and organisations to better understand and improve wellbeing levels across the industry.
Mental and physical ill health have been proven to have a hugely negative impact on both the individual and the UK economy. Recent research found £35 billion* is lost every year due to poor health – this equates to £10.6bn in sickness absence, £21.2bn in reduced productivity and £3.1bn in replacing staff who leave their jobs because of mental health-related reasons.
A separate report commissioned by Prime Minister Theresa May in October found a staggering 300,000 people with a long-term mental health problem lose their job every year.
The problem also appears to be getting worse. Gallop found there has been a 15% drop in people reporting being happy or thriving over the past two years This is the biggest drop they have ever recorded.
Research has also found that poor wellbeing is negatively impacting adland*. The industry has a higher than average turnover of staff; 30% against a national average of 10%. Last year NABS, which runs a range of support services for people in the industry, recorded a 67% increase in calls to its Advice Line from people looking for emotional support.
But research on what can be done to tackle this epidemic has found that interventions can have a hugely positive impact**. It found that interventions which reach 1% of a population can result in a 6% decrease in mental health issues, meaning small changes can make a big difference.