In a recent webinar, executive producer and director Liz Biggs spoke with Film + TV Charity’s Engagement Producer Sophie Freeman about the Whole Picture Toolkit, a practical guide to creating a safe and healthy working environment.
Looking Glass surveys from 2019-2022 reveal startling figures from participants. In 2019, 87% of respondents had experienced a mental health problem. In 2022, only 11% describe the industry as a mentally healthy place to work. Creating better mental health practices is crucial to the wellbeing of a crew. Here you’ll find some key takeaways from the discussion and ways to implement this guide into your production.
Better practices come from the top down
Film + TV Charity research identified the reasons for poor mental health in the industry as being linked to conditions, culture and capability. As leaders, directors influence a production and understanding these factors can help uncover where poor mental health stems from:
· Conditions: schedules are demanding, budgets are shrinking, and uncertainty about future work can all lead to a stressful environment for crew.
· Culture: creating a safe set means being vigilant and preventing bullying and harassment.
· Capability: poor retention of mid-level and senior roles means talent is lost and roles change. Not all leaders have management training, and this can be difficult for crew and line managers.
The Toolkit aims to bring more awareness to mental health on set. When cast and crew are functioning at their best and in a safe environment, we should see outcomes like better collaboration and increased productivity, all leading to a more successful production.
The first step
Start using the Toolkit in your production. It’s free and accessible to all through the Film + TV Charity website. You’ll find guides, templates, and case studies of how it can be used. Using the Toolkit, create a mental health risk assessment and wellbeing plan – stick to it.
The image below shows the steps you can take to conduct a mental health risk assessment, and you can also find out more here.
Practical things to remember:
· You don’t need to be a mental health expert to ask how someone is doing.
· Treat people like humans, everyone is there to do their best work.
· Implementing better practices doesn’t have to be expensive, small changes can make a big impact.
Reach out
Reach out to Film + TV Charity if you have an upcoming production. They are available to guide and support you on topics and issues such as: legal and financial advice, workshops and online tools, counselling and therapy, and bullying advice service. Contact them here: wholepicturetoolkit.org.uk/get-bespoke-support/
To find out more about the Film and TV Charity, visit: filmtvcharity.org.uk/about-us
Take the 2024 Looking Glass survey to help make work better for everyone working in our industry.
