Industry bodies join forces to develop mental health platform for MENA’s marketing sector

Four marketing and communications industry bodies have partnered to develop a mental health platform aimed at addressing workplace pressures across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The Marketing Society, PRCA MENA, the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) and UAE-based mental health platform mentl will work together on the initiative, with Publicis Groupe Middle East appointed as its creative partner.

The project aims to move the industry’s mental health conversation beyond awareness and towards practical action, drawing on research into the experiences of marketing and communications professionals across the region.

According to the PRCA MENA Mental Health Report 2026, 56 per cent of respondents frequently experience stress, anxiety or feeling overwhelmed, while 41 per cent report experiencing burnout frequently.

The initiative will also draw on the Middle East Mental Health Charter, published last year, which outlines workplace mental health standards for the industry.

Publicis Groupe Middle East will lead the creative development, including the initiative’s brand identity and communications strategy. The process will involve industry workshops, stakeholder interviews and benchmarking against internationally recognised mental health campaigns.

Conrad Egbert, head of PRCA MENA, said the report and charter highlighted the need to treat mental health as a professional and human priority.

He added that the initiative would reflect the experiences of people working across the industry and aim to create lasting change.

Justin Kerr-Stevens, chair of MEPRA, said the sector needed to move from discussing mental health to taking practical steps to address workplace pressures.

He said industry bodies had a responsibility to work together towards healthier and more sustainable working environments.

Bassel Kakish, chief executive officer of Publicis Groupe Middle East and Turkey, said the industry should apply its experience in communicating mental health and wellbeing issues to its own workforce.

“Talent should be our biggest priority, and investing in people means investing in their well-being too,” he said.

The creative development process is underway. Further details about workshops, opportunities for industry participation and timelines are expected to be announced.

The partnership comes as workplace wellbeing continues to feature in discussions around talent retention and working conditions across the marketing and communications sector.