HelpCase Study: Strengthening Wellbeing Culture in Advertising
Oberland, a purpose-driven advertising agency with 35 employees, operates in one of the most high-pressure industries in New York City. Shrinking margins, rapid technological disruption, and the emotional demands of creative work all contribute to an environment where stress is the norm. For Co-Founder and CEO Drew Train, fostering a mentally healthy workplace isn’t just good practice, it’s essential to the agency’s long-term success.
Train’s commitment to mental health began more than a decade ago while producing a veterans’ suicide prevention campaign. After calling grieving parents to request permission to use their children’s stories, he realized the ripple effect that mental health challenges have on individuals, families, and communities. That experience ultimately led him to join the NAMI-NYC Board of Directors, where he has served for over 10 years.
In advertising, emotional strain is heightened by subjective feedback, accelerated timelines, and a rapidly evolving landscape. Oberland wanted to proactively address workplace stress, reduce stigma, and build an environment where employees could bring their whole selves to work. But as a small agency, they needed guidance, community, and proven strategies.
The NAMI-NYC Workplace Mental Health Collaborative offered Oberland exactly what it needed: expert guidance, a peer learning community, and practical tools to build a culturally responsive, mentally healthy workplace.
Monthly meetings allowed Oberland to hear how other companies were addressing similar challenges from benefits to employee engagement. This gave Oberland new strategies to adapt for their own culture. Being part of the Collaborative signaled to employees that leadership was actively working to improve their wellbeing. This increased trust, transparency, and psychological safety.
Employees now talk openly about therapy and mental health. It’s normal for staff to list therapy sessions on their public calendars without fear of judgment. Employees feel comfortable naming what they’re experiencing, like stress or anxiety, because leaders model this transparency. As a result, retention has improved.
Train credits NAMI-NYC with helping Oberland create a workplace where people feel safer, more supported, and more like themselves. “Employees want support from everywhere: home, school, community, and work,” he said. “If they can’t show up as their best selves, they can’t contribute at their best. The Collaborative helps us make that possible.”
To join the NAMI-NYC Workplace Mental Health Collaborative or learn more about our workplace programs, fill out our form and we’ll be in touch.