Why These Are the Cornerstones of a Mentally Healthier Events Industry
If there’s one thing the events industry is famous for, it’s adrenaline. Tight deadlines, high expectations, long hours, and the unspoken rule that “the show must go on”, even when we’re running on fumes. But the truth is, this culture of constant motion has a cost. Poor mental health has quietly taken its toll on our industry for a long time, and it’s time we looked at how to fix it together.
At Event Wellbeing Matters, we believe the foundation for lasting change rests on three pillars: Empathy, Culture, and Self-Care.
These aren’t just buzzwords. They’re the blueprint for building an industry that thrives, not one that burns out.
1. Empathy – The Human Connection
Empathy is where real wellbeing begins. It’s about understanding that everyone experiences stress, overwhelm, and exhaustion differently. In an industry full of deadlines and creative chaos, empathy means pausing long enough to ask: “What do you need right now?”
For individuals, empathy starts with self-awareness, recognising your own limits, emotions, and needs. For organisations, it’s about leading with compassion instead of compliance. Listening, adapting, and giving people psychological safety to say, “I’m struggling,” without fear of judgement.
When we make empathy part of our day-to-day practice, we create spaces, both physical and emotional, where people feel seen and supported, and that’s where real wellbeing begins.
2. Culture – The Systemic Shift
You can’t talk about wellbeing without talking about culture. The events industry has long celebrated stamina as success, “survive the season,” “pull the all-nighter,” “sleep when it’s over”, but what if we flipped that narrative?
A healthy culture is one that measures success by sustainability, not sacrifice. It normalises boundaries, celebrates rest as much as results, and builds structures that prevent burnout before it begins.
For organisations, this means embedding wellbeing into every layer, from scheduling and staffing to leadership and language. For freelancers and suppliers, it means being part of a wider ecosystem that values collaboration over competition.
Because when the culture changes, everything changes.
3. Self-Care – The Non-Negotiable
Let’s be clear: self-care isn’t a luxury. It’s maintenance for your most important tool, you. Whether it’s taking five minutes to breathe before a briefing, saying no to another back-to-back day, or carving out proper rest between gigs, self-care is how we sustain our passion without losing ourselves in it.
For individuals, it’s about creating habits that support your mind and body, not just when things go wrong, but as part of your everyday routine. For organisations, it’s about modelling that behaviour. When leaders take care of themselves, it gives permission for everyone else to do the same.
Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s survival, and it’s the foundation of long-term success.
Working Together for a Healthier Industry
The events world is built on teamwork, and wellbeing is no different. Individuals, organisations, suppliers, and freelancers all have a role to play in building an industry that looks after its people.
Individuals can lead by example, practising self-care and setting boundaries that protect their health. Organisations can foster cultures that put people first, not profits or performance metrics. Industry bodies and collectives can drive the bigger conversations that shift norms and set new standards.
Together, empathy, culture, and self-care form a powerful framework that can transform how we work, connect, and care in this industry we all love.
Because when wellbeing matters, everyone thrives, and the show goes on in a much healthier way.
Event Wellbeing Matters 