Mental Health Awareness Day - comments from our committee 

By CIPR NW Committee Members
26 September 2025
 

When our committee came together to talk about Mental Health Awareness Day (10 October 2025), one thing was clear – that mental health is deeply personal. Each of us carries our own experiences, perspectives, and reasons for why this topic matters so much. 

With that in mind, we felt it was important not just to share one voice, but to create space for many.  This blog is a collection of reflections, written by contributors who have kindly offered to share their own experiences and insights.  By doing so, we hope to highlight the different ways mental health touches our lives, and to remind one another that while our journeys may be unique, the need for kindness, compassion, openness, and support is something we all share.

Harriet Williams, Senior Communications Manager:

Growing up in rural Wales, life looked very different from the one I now live. My nearest shop was five miles away, my childhood was spent on the family farm, and the pace of life was worlds apart from the corporate environment I work in today. Moving into the city has been wonderful in so many ways - it has broadened my horizons, opened my mind, and given me opportunities I might never have imagined. But I don’t often pause to reflect on how that shift has shaped me, or the quiet challenges it has brought with it.

Sometimes, the contrast between my upbringing and my current career has left me questioning whether I belong. I don’t always see myself reflected in those around me, and while that difference can be a strength - sparking curiosity and meaningful connections – I’ve had to work hard on building my own confidence, learning not to compare myself to others, and reminding myself that my background doesn’t lessen my ability - it enriches it.

I wouldn’t say this is something that has deeply undermined my mental health, but it has certainly made me more aware of my own sensitivity, and of the need to support myself. Through coaching, reflection, and simply learning to back myself, I’ve found ways to step into my role with pride. For me, mental health has meant becoming a strong, independent young woman who believes in her place – even if that place looks very different from where she started.

Freya Budd, Senior PR Manager:

More recently, I’ve been guilty of an Irish exit on a team night out but at the early stages of my career, I felt a need to prove myself as an extrovert to fit into the stereotype that often comes with working in PR. Late nights, bleary eyes at trade shows and always being glammed up felt like a rite of passage to be a fully fledged ‘PR person’.  Growing up, the only representation I’d seen of anyone working within PR was Patsy and Edina on Absolutely Fabulous and later on, Lauren Conrad on The Hills, which both depicted a fun, humorous and equally glamorous world.

As someone who always struggles to balance the tension of being extroverted in many ways but introverted in others, it’s rare that I allow my colleagues to see the ‘home’ version of myself. In the past, I’ve felt this has been drawn on as a negative point by others, but the deeper I get into my career and my life, the more I realise that it’s OK to compartmentalise - being professional and fun don’t have to be mutually exclusive. If, like me, you don’t find comfortability in letting your guard down much in the workplace, or would prefer to miss part of the night out to go home and read a book or catch up on your favourite series, rest assured knowing that you don’t always have to be in the thick of the action to be able to be good at your job. The best satisfaction (for me) comes from an early morning pitch that lands well, or gathering some much needed headspace to pull together a meaningful thought leadership feature.

Nicole Kenny, Business Development Manager:

As someone who’s always identified more as an introvert, confirmed by every Myers-Briggs test I’ve ever taken, working in a role that demands extroverted qualities can feel like a bit of a plot twist. On World Mental Health Day, it’s worth acknowledging that this dynamic isn’t about having a weakness. Instead, it’s about embracing how introversion can actually be a hidden superpower.

 

Imposter syndrome often whispers that if you’re not naturally the loudest voice in the room, you might not belong there. But the truth is, being an introverted engagement professional can bring a thoughtful, driven, strategic approach that’s every bit as impactful as being naturally outgoing. It shows just how flexible and resilient introverts can be. Gone are the days when only the most extroverted personalities were seen as the best communicators. Today, it’s all about playing to your strengths and knowing that quiet confidence and deep listening can be just as powerful.