Over recent years, the MeToo and TimesUp movements have shed light on harmful behaviours affecting on-screen talent within the industry. This flagship research has developed a new evidence base which sheds light on the experiences of people working behind the camera, and has revealed that two thirds have thought about leaving the industry due to concerns about their mental wellbeing. At a time when the industry is experiencing skill shortages and is under greater scrutiny to increase diversity to ensure the stories we tell are truly reflective of British society this is a clear cause for concern.

Our research found that 87% of people working in film and TV have experienced a mental health problem, compared with 65% of us nationally (1). 64% of workers within the industry have experienced depression, compared with 42% nationally, and 28% have experienced anxiety. Subjective wellbeing*, that is, individuals’ own assessment of how they are doing, is much lower among people working in this industry than national averages (2).

We have found a series of factors at the root of this.

• Working conditions within film and TV are both incredibly intense and highly insecure, with workers more likely to work extremely long hours than average, but also more likely to face extended periods without work. Research participants emphasised the difficulties they faced as a result of the financial uncertainty and social isolation that can come with these extreme working patterns.
• A harmful working culture, characterised by uneven power dynamics and inappropriate and abusive behaviour being normalised, was referred to by many research participants. 82% of workers overall and 86% of women had experienced and/or witnessed bullying at work.
• Finally, and perhaps most concerning of all, we found that the industry lacks the capability to deal with these issues. Two thirds of workers supporting vulnerable contributors and more than half of those working on distressing or challenging content felt they weren’t getting the right support to manage their own mental wellbeing. We found the largely freelance workforce within the industry is falling through the gaps in existing provision, unable to access support available through employers, and facing difficulties in accessing statutory services.

The research identified examples of action being taken in other industries, which provide insights to inform how the film and TV industry could work to tackle shared challenges. We have identified four ways in which the industry’s approach to workplace wellbeing could be improved:

1. Increasing and improving access to support

2. Building capability and capacity within the industry to improve workplace wellbeing

3. Changing behaviours

4. Improving ways of working

Our case study series highlights the following approaches to support as being particularly effective:

• peer support, recognising the value of shared experiences
• digital routes to support for those who may have difficulties attending appointments in person
• driving behaviour change through talking campaigns
• innovative approaches to incident reporting
• Upskilling workers in mental health literacy and line management to improve access to support

Equipped with the insights captured through this research, we recommended the Film and TV Charity and wider screen industry collaborate to shape and build a movement for change. This is an industry driven by people; by their ideas, their creativity, and their capacity to tell compelling stories. Retaining this talent through proactively protecting and improving workforce wellbeing is more important now than ever before.

The Film and TV Charity’s response to this research, the Whole Picture Programme, marks the start of that process. The Programme aims to bring together industry leaders to galvanize both an urgent response to the challenges raised over the short term, while jointly developing a plan for sustainable and lasting culture change within the industry.

Read the Looking Glass Report.

(1) Mental Health Foundation (2017) Surviving or Thriving? The state of the UK's mental health

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/surviving-or-thriving-state-uks-mental-health

(2) Subjective wellbeing was measured using the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale which runs from 7 to 35. The average among the survey sample was 19 compared with 23 nationally.

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