Debate
leave - new parents often do not
get the time and allowances they
need.
Leigh Cowlishaw,
managing partner,
Winning Edges
T
he Hotel Booking
Agents Association
(HBAA) held a mental health
awareness event on 15 May.
The event saw speakers
touch on mental health,
and what the events and
hospitality industries can do
to collectively improve ours.
It was part of Mental Health
Awareness Week, which ran
from 13 to 19 May.
With research from Stress
Matters finding that 71
per cent of event industry
professionals believe their
colleagues are suffering
from stress, not to mention
events coordinator coming
fifth on a survey of the most
stressful jobs, mental health
is understandably high on
the industry’s agenda.
To learn more about the
relationship between events
and mental health, EN’s
Space to switch off
In early May, the event industry played an active role
in observing Mental Health Awareness Week. EN’s
Stuart Wood learns more about the issues affecting
event professionals
Stuart Wood caught up with
some of the event’s speakers
and asked: ‘What is the
events industry not doing
around mental health?’ unhealthy demands on our time
and energy. These sorts of things
are why many people in events
burn out before reaching the end
of their careers.
Louisa Watson, director
of marketing, Wyboston
Lakes Fran Knight, director,
Pinpoint Events/Happy
Human Incentives
Senior management need to
bring in mental health initiatives
from the top down within the
industry. While we can make
individual changes to our lives
to benefit our mental health, real
lasting change will only come
about if event companies change
their culture and stop making There is still a perception that
you need to work crazy hours and
never switch off in events. I used
to answer emails at 11pm before
going to bed, and it speaks to a
dangerous attitude which many
of us still maintain. The industry
also has a long way to go when it
comes to parents and maternity
Being realistic with
expectations on yourself is a
requirement for your mental
health. The events industry has
high demands, and they can be
fuelled with reduced sleep, stress
and long hours. On top of this,
events are an industry with high
levels of alcohol consumption,
and drinking can often seem to
be a mandatory part of the job.
We don’t give people the time to
slow down and take a moment
for self-care.
Mark Maher, director
of sales marketing,
Boulevard Events
The industry is not preparing
people before they enter it. Some
degree of chaos is inevitable
in events, where there will be
days of long hours and last-
minute disasters. We need to
be speaking to students on
event management degrees
and teaching them methods
of dealing with these stressful
situations. If they are equipped
to deal with it ahead of time,
they will help to build a more
balanced, sustainable events
industry.
The Name in EVENT HIRE
0800 458 5701
[email protected]
Charles Wilson Engineers Ltd
June — 15