In light of Mental Health Awareness Week, The Film & TV Charity has launched a 12-month behaviour-change campaign ‘Let’s Reset’ to promote better mental health within the industry.
With it’s tagline, “It’s time to come together and reset”, the ‘Let’s Reset’ campaign mission is to bring awareness to show individuals working in film and TV the support that’s available to everyone in the industry and to show that the commitment to improving the industry’s mental health and wellbeing comes from the top down, with senior leaders pledging to:
- Directly address underlying causes of poor mental health
- Encourage open discussion to challenge unhealthy behaviours
- Put specific support in place, including clear signposting of The Film and TV Charity’s growing suite of support services available to anybody working behind the scenes in film, TV, or cinema
- Highlight the work being done internally and build on work being done by other organisations including BECTU, BAFTA, BFI, Coalition for Change, ScreenSkills and beyond
Research from the second Looking Glass Survey indicates that almost 4 out of 5 workers in the film and TV industry believe intensity of work is having a negative impact on their mental health. This surveys data showed as many as 9 in 10 people working behind the scenes in film and TV had experienced a mental health problem – well above the UK average – with evidence showing that working conditions, industry culture and lack of accessible support create conditions which mean mental health and wellbeing suffer.
This is why ‘Let’s Reset’ is such a useful and crucial campaign, with support from several big industry partners, including the BBC, Disney, ITV, Sky UK & Ireland, IMG and Banijay. Charlotte Moore, chief content officer, BBC, said: “A healthier working environment is something we can all get behind. Freelancers are the lifeblood of our industry, and the BBC stands alongside the rest of the film and television community to help improve working conditions for freelancers.”
Alex Pumfrey, CEO of The Film & TV Charity, said: “People in the film & TV industry are passionate about their craft, but their mental health is too often being strained to breaking point. Unhealthy working hours, bad practices, bullying, racism, harassment, and ableism are too common in an industry we all love, and all of us have a role to play in speaking up to create change.” Stating that the campaign marks a “critical moment for senior leaders to showcase their own meaningful commitments to protect and support their people.”
Businesses can find out how to support the Let’s Reset campaign and help to shape the future of TV and film by visiting www.filmandtvcharity.org.uk/leading-change/letsreset. Individuals can also find access to all of the charity’s support services, including the brand-new resources designed specifically for freelancers.
Anyone working in the film and TV industry who needs support can call The Film and TV Charity’s 24/7 Support Line on 0800 054 0000 to ask for professional advice.
