DE&I MIND OVER MATTER A strong focus on mental health and wellness has become a necessity for the agency of the future. A recent 2020 report from Headspace cited that 89% of workers believe that their company should offer mental health benefits while working to foster an environment where employees can voice mental health concerns. Mental health affects our psychological, emotional and social well-being - when supported in these areas we are more likely to feel and achieve our best. Despite a heightened sense of isolation and uncertainty for the future, one thing has remained clear: Havas has created a sense of community that exists outside of a building. A culture that calls for us to check-in with each other, create space for brave conversations and lean on support when we need it. Havas Ortega’s Jos Ortega, Havas New York’s Laura Maness, and Havas UK’s Lou Mossman share why a focus on mental health was a priority this year, and what initiatives have come to life in their agencies to help make a difference. Why is mental health important to you, your agency and removing barriers and creating healthy new rituals together, advertising as a whole? we’ve cultivated a physical and psychological safe space where people can truly be their whole selves in an uplifting creative JO: I was enlightened on the importance of mental health community that transcends traditional agency culture. We three years ago after we conducted our Millennial Codes view empathy, compassion and vulnerability as our greatest ethnographic study. We found that unlike their western strengths, and mental health as core to personal and counterparts, Filipino millennials are constantly bridging professional growth in any business—but particularly in a tensions between the cultural values they were brought up creative business. with and the desire forself-discovery and the fulfillment of their passions. I realised that we needed to help them process their What is the core principle of your programme? personal issues. JO: TALK is our holistic approach to mental wellness at Havas On another front, I was concerned by a disturbing rant on Ortega. We provide our people 24/7 access to a dedicated Facebook by one of our young colleagues, whose job was to hotline to a professional consultant and a face-to-face session, monitor toxic telco social media pages. I wanted to reach out if necessary. Our partner, InTouch Community, conducts three and help, but did not know how. Something had to be done. Skill Builder Sessions a year on mental wellness topics, that are This led to the introduction of TALK. voted on by our employees. Internally, we have our Culture programmes. We also make sure to take a break and celebrate LM -UK: On a personal level, mental health is a fundamental Wellness Week with curated activities that remind our people part to living a healthy and fulfilled life. It impacts us, not only of the value of mental well-being. I believe that a workplace, psychologically andemotionally but also affects our physical now defined as a combination of home and office, that cares for and social wellbeing. Exercising good mental health, gives us people’s mental well-being allows for more balanced, confident, the capacity not only to deal with unexpected challenges (hello collaborative and inspired employees. 2020) but it contributes to the quality of the work we do. In our industry it’s our people that are the differentiator and we LM –UK: The single biggest factor we adhere to is the pride ourselves on attracting top talent and deliver consistently programme needs to be ‘always on and always evolving’. high work for our clients. On a day to day level this means our In a similar way that our mental health is not static, we aim agency is a fast-paced environment with demanding business for the initiative to be dynamic, responsive and relevant. challenges. The reality is that without the proper support, Fundamentally Havas Equalise is created for the people by the sustaining a high performing culture can lead to stress and people. The success of the programme is down to listening burnout. to what is happening in the business and wider society. Looking at this through a mental health and well-being lens LM -NY: My intention from day one has been to break the and then formulating bespoke programme content that either traditions of advertising culture and to (re)set the conditions for complements this or offers the antidote. a creative lifestyle where every employee feels valued, inspired, nourished and supported to create the most meaningful work in LM –NY: Our Creative Consciousness programme was their careers. I’ve always been a big believer in putting people designed to help people grow, be and become their best and first and instilling a growth culture that focuses on all aspects of highest selves—ultimately, it was developed to help people a meaningful work experience. By challenging tired norms, outperform. We care deeply about the work we’re doing, but 50