Filming the looking glass

Report by: Work Foundation

Author(s): Melanie Wilkes; Heather Carey; Rebecca Florisson

February 1, 2020

This report from UK think tank the Work Foundation looks at mental wellbeing in the film and creative industries.

The success of film, TV and cinema is driven by the creativity and talent of its workforce. But this research has found that two thirds of people working in the industry have considered leaving due to concerns about their mental wellbeing.

Through a mixed-methods research project involving a workforce survey, qualitative interviews and engagement with an industry forum, we have developed a new evidence base regarding mental health in TV and film. Our survey results make for sombre reading:

• 87% had experienced a mental health problem compared with 65% of us nationally.
• 64% have experienced depression, compared with 42% nationally
• 28% have experienced anxiety compared with 12% nationally

This research has uncovered a series of underlying factors which may be contributing to this:

• Conditions, including long working hours and many struggling with work-life balance.
• Culture, including high incidence of workplace bullying
• Capability, with limited mental health literacy and line management skills making it difficult for people experiencing mental health problems to get the support they need