The Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management (Global Alliance) today announced a new collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO)’s QualityRights initiative, strengthening the Global Alliance’s 2025 commitment to improving mental health and wellbeing within the public relations and communications industry.
The announcement comes as January’s Health & Wellbeing Month
draws to a close. To mark the occasion, Global Alliance will host a free
global webinar on the 30th of January, which is open to all
public relations and communication professionals. The event will coincide with
the release of the Global Alliance’s How We Are Working Mental Health and
Wellbeing Snapshot Report (Snapshot Report). This report highlights the
critical challenges faced by PR professionals and the need for systemic change.
“Public Relations professionals are now facing unprecedented challenges,” said Professor Justin Green, Global Alliance President and CEO. “Our Snapshot Report confirms this, and we must act now to ensure mental health is recognized and addressed across the industry. Our collaboration with WHO QualityRights is a major step forward. In 2025, the Global Alliance is committed to setting a global benchmark and supporting our members to advance this critical commitment.”
Ana Pista, founder and CEO of Ardent Communications (ArdentComm) and a newly appointed director at Global Alliance, agreed, saying, “The pressure on Filipino PR professionals is truly immense. In fact, a 2023 report by the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) noted that the ‘rising epidemic of mental health crisis' in the country is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address mental health within all sectors, including public relations.”
Key findings from the Snapshot
Report
The Snapshot Report provides a concerning glimpse into the mental health struggles of public relations professionals, though it does not yet represent a comprehensive global picture.
Key findings include:
- 78% of Public Relations professionals report high
stress.
- 46% of Public Relations professionals note worsening
mental health in the past year.
- 64% say their organizations lack adequate mental
health support.
- Only 32% feel comfortable discussing mental health at
work.
- More than 50% cite unrealistic deadlines, client demands, and poor work-life balance as key stressors.
Jennifer Muir, Chair of Health & Wellbeing Month and a Global Alliance Board Member, reflected on this data and stressed the need for action, stating, “We can’t afford to treat mental health as an afterthought or a personal burden; it must be a collective priority. The limited data we have tells us a compelling story. Too many PR professionals are experiencing burnout, stress, and receiving inadequate workplace support.”
“We need more than just awareness — we need tangible action,” said
Muir. “That means breaking down the stigma, integrating real support systems
into the fabric of our industry, and ensuring that mental health resources are accessible
to every professional, everywhere.”
Taking action: A global collaboration for mental
wellbeing
The increasing demands of the public relations industry, coupled with workplace practices and cultural challenges, are placing a significant strain on mental health.
This collaboration aims to address these issues by:
- Establishing a Global
Benchmark: The Global Alliance is
committed to developing a standardized approach to measuring and reporting
mental health in public relations.
- Accessible Resources: Through the WHO QualityRights initiative, Public
Relations and Communication professionals will have access to:
- WHO QualityRights self-guided e-training in 11
languages, focusing on a human rights perspective.
- Global Alliance-led guidance on workplace mental
health policies and leadership-driven cultural change.
- A framework for embedding mental health as an industry
priority.
“Through this global collaboration, we are
moving beyond conversation and taking the necessary steps to create lasting
change,” Muir further emphasized.
Global webinar on mental health
The Health & Wellbeing Month global webinar on January 30th
will:
- Launch the Global Alliance
Snapshot Report.
- Introduce the WHO QualityRights
collaboration and resources.
- Feature industry leaders
discussing mental health best practices.
- Provide a forum for PR professionals to share challenges and solutions.
Register now: https://www.globalalliancepr.org/mental-health-perspectives-personal-local-global
A global call to action
As the Global Alliance moves into 2025, it urges Public Relations
professionals, agencies, and organizations worldwide to prioritize mental
health and wellbeing. This collaboration with WHO QualityRights, along with
global benchmarking and continued engagement, represents a significant step
towards creating a healthier and more sustainable public relations profession.
For more details on the Snapshot Report, WHO
QualityRights collaboration, and Health & Wellbeing Month, visit: https://www.globalalliancepr.org/health-wellbeing-month.
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