NABS Sees Continued Demand for Emotional Support in Q3 as Therapy and Group Coaching Surge

NABS' Q3 2021 stats are released today, revealing the continuing impact of the pandemic on adland's wellbeing.

Emotional support was the number one reason for people calling NABS' Advice Line in Q3 2021, with mental health, work pressures and low mood and confidence cited as the main reasons for seeking support. This is a shift from the trend NABS saw from the start of the pandemic until Q2 2021, where financial assistance and redundancy both featured as the main reason for contacting NABS.

Diana Tickell, CEO, NABS, says: "While the industry is entering a reportedly strong Q4, with recruitment on the rise, the long-term emotional impact of the pandemic on employees requires urgent attention.

"The prevalence of Covid is causing extra stress for individuals, whether they're carrying extra workloads or juggling their return to office with complex home responsibilities. People need our clear and practical help now to support their wellbeing."

Financial support calls are the second highest reason for calling NABS, close behind at 31%, with people seeking advice on debt and financial management. NABS grants are a key way for people to get support with their finances if their income or employment is at risk. The charity is now encouraging people to apply as early as possible for its upskilling and support grants in order to give themselves the best chance of securing funds, before reaching crisis point.

Referrals to NABS therapy services for counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy have increased by 50% in the last two months. The referrals are made via NABS' Advice Line, putting the charity on front line when it comes to adlanders' mental health.

Take-up in NABS masterclasses (group coaching sessions) has also increased significantly at 24%, as people seek connection with others, as well as the tools they need to build back confidence and resilience after the last 18 months. Key themes arising during masterclasses include recognising the signs of stress and overwhelm, managing workload, lost confidence during lockdown, speaking up, setting boundaries and wellbeing needs.

NABS' support for working parents, a group hit particularly hard by the pandemic, reached even more of this audience in Q3. The charity's digital delivery methods reached 136% more working parents, with masterclasses and talks covering subjects including work-life balance, parental guilt, wellbeing and developing a personal brand.

Uzma Afridi, head of careers, NABS, says that people have turned to group coaching as a way of getting much-needed social contact, as well as essential support and guidance, following so much isolation.

Uzma says: "The huge take-up in NABS' masterclasses in Q3 reflects the industry's need to build up their wellbeing and learn crucial skills while reconnecting with others. Resilience and confidence have been at a low during the pandemic and NABS is at the front line when it comes to boosting adlanders back up again."

NABS has identified key trends coming through from those who are having one-to-one coaching, with career development and work worries as key drivers for reaching out for help.

Uzma says: "The main themes in our bespoke coaching sessions include overwhelm, workload, how to approach hybrid working and how to manage teams. NABS sees all of these as essential factors that contribute to wellbeing and it's our purpose to help people navigate these challenges with increased confidence and self-belief."

Additionally, NABS has seen an increase in bookings for timeTo's training as we return to our offices. The organisation ran 21 training sessions throughout Q3, twice the amount in the first half of the year.