Stress Matters, in partnership with multidisciplinary researchers from the University of Hertfordshire and Walters Research and Consulting have published the results of their latest research study into the wellbeing and mental health of eventprofs to celebrate World Mental Health Day (10th October 2021).
Key findings:
- 81% of freelancers have considered leaving the industry in the last 12 months.
- 53% of respondents believed that the business that they work for have taken a more active role in trying to improve their wellbeing in the last 12 months.
- 13% of people have had to take time off work in 2021 due to stress, depression, anxiety or any other mental health illness.
- 81% would put the reputation of a business’s approach to workplace wellbeing in the top five reasons to select a new employer.
- Those working in conferences felt substantially more supported by their employer than those working in exhibitions.
The study was conducted through an online survey and interviews with individuals across the industry in the spring and summer of 2021. The results have highlighted notable changes from pre-pandemic. In 2019, only 13% respondents felt their employer genuinely cared about reducing stress in their job, this has now dramatically increased to 79.5%. An increase of 32% in those who would put the reputations approach to workplace wellbeing impacting their employments choices since pre-pandemic was also seen.
Laura Capell-Abra, founder of Stress Matters shares, “I am over the moon that employees are feeling so much more supported. It has been an incredibly challenging time for the industry and whilst there is still a lot more work to be done, this is really encouraging to see. It is also no surprise that individuals are focusing more on their own wellbeing and making career choices based on this. Employers now need to up their game to show employees how they are being more people-first and prove that their efforts haven’t been to simply tick a box.”
To support the industry and in celebration of World Mental Health Day, Stress Matters are offering FREE access to their two online courses for all over the next seven days. Eventprofs can either complete the Mental health and stress management for eventprofs course or Designing and delivering mentally safe events. The courses can accessed here using the discount code: WMHD2021. Each course takes around three hours to complete and are recognised by the International Stress Management Association.
The theme for the 2021 World Mental Health Day is Mental Health in an Unequal World. And that’s why Stress Matters are keen to even up the access to mental health education by offering free access to their online courses and a buy one-gift one promotion on their Mental Health First Aid training.
Stress Matters have been conducting research into the industry since 2016 and are tracking the changing state of wellbeing and attitudes in the industry. This study is part of a longitudinal study in conjunction with the aforementioned research partners and the next study will be done in 2023.
The full white paper can be found on the Stress Matters website.
