The Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland (IAPI) and The Advertising Benevolent Society (TABS) have launched the first wellbeing programme of its kind for the advertising industry in Ireland. The programme, called Smash, will provide a variety of mental health supports and practical services, exclusively to IAPI’s two thousand members.
TABS traditionally supported marketers through personal finance difficulties, however with 47 per cent of the advertising workforce under 30 and mental health challenges on the increase, both IAPI and TABS recognise the need to develop support services for the changing needs in the industry and help people encountering mental health issues.
Through the new TABS-funded Smash programme, IAPI members will be able to avail of six professional consultation sessions on eight different concerns free of charge. The programme of up to 48 professional consultations will cover financial, legal, consumer, health, parenting and career advice as well as mediation and life coaching.
Allen Kiernan, financial director, BBDO Dublin and TABS board member, says the society has been working behind the scenes of the industry for over 60 years helping those who have fallen on hard times but it is now felt that they be relevant to younger people in advertising. Kiernan said they believed Smash will be of huge benefit to IAPI members.
The Smash programme is managed by Spectrum Health. The official launch was held in Venue 35 with Niall Breslin as key note speaker at the event. An IAPI wellbeing working group, made up of volunteers from seven agency members – PHD, Javelin, Publicis, Core, Ogilvy, Havas and Rothco – were involved in creating the Smash brand identity.
