Most of us are aware that we need to be physically fit & healthy in our work and home lives, but few consider their mental health when assessing fitness levels.
Good mental health means being generally able to think, feel and react in the ways that you need and want to live your life. But if you go through a period of poor mental health you might find the ways you're frequently thinking, feeling or reacting become difficult, or even impossible, to cope with. This can feel just as bad as a physical illness, or even worse.
According to mental health charity, Mind.org.uk, mental health problems affect around one in four people in any given year. They range from common problems, such as depression and anxiety, to rarer problems such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
© Mind. This information is published in full at mind.org.uk
NHS Helplines
NHS England does not have a central Mental Health Helpline, instead each local NHS trust has its own Mental health 24-hour advice and support line - for you, your child, your parent or someone you care for
Breathing Space - Scotland 0800 838587
Confidential, phone service for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.
C.A.L.L Helpline - Wales 0800 132737
Offers emotional support and information/literature on Mental Health and related matters to the people of Wales.
Lifeline - Northern Ireland 0808 808 8000
Lifeline is a crisis response helpline available to everyone in Northern Ireland. There is immediate help by telephone at any time every day, if you're in distress or despair or someone you know is.
Industry Specific Helplines
Film & TV Charity 0800 054 0000
24/7 Support Line to ask for professional advice. The team will note down a few details, discuss your options and put you in touch with the best person to help. It’s a step in the right direction.
Did you know???
Mental Health is covered by law under multiple legislation?
Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) – UK, Managing Health and Safety Regulation (1999), Equality Act 2010
see these, other legislation and regulations on our Regulations pageThe Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), it states:
“All workers have a right to work in places where risks to their health and safety are properly controlled. Health and safety is about stopping you getting hurt at work or ill through work. Your employer is responsible for health and safety, but you must help.”
This means that Mental Health MUST be considered, and is a criminal offence if ignored.
Production Companies need to complete a Mental Health Risk Assessment alongside the usual Risk Assessment & Method Statements (RAMS)
Mental Health Risk Assessment
The law is explicit, a production regardless of size must put steps in place to prevent stress and protect the mental and physical health of all crew, cast, contributors and contractors regardless of their employment status.
It is up to an individual production to decide how the mental health of its cast and crew should be supported, and 6ft from the spotlight are championing the concept of using a Wellbeing Facilitator, who will work with the production to create and implement mental health policies and stress/mental health risk assessments.
Don't know what a Mental Health risk assessment looks like?
Head over to the 6ft example docs library.
Aids for Mental Health Procedures
Many individuals, companies and industry bodies want to make changes to improve mental health provision, but don’t know where to start. Built from the TV Charity 2019 Looking Glass Report , the toolkit gives clear, concise resources, free templates, examples of industry ‘best practice’, and expert advice, to help productions embed wellbeing at every stage of a production.
Mental Health Awareness Training
Mental health first aid training is designed to qualify you as a mental health first aider, in much the same way you would expect physical first aid.
This link is the non- covid 19 link, but make sure you check out BECTU Bitesize online sessions :
Wellbeing 106: Mental Health Awareness & Resilience with Sarah McCaffrey
6ft From the Spotlight is a non profit Community Interest Company (6ft From CIC) set up with the sole aim of improving the mental wellbeing of music and film crew in the UK, providing training for both engagers and crew.
The session will increase the awareness and understanding around mental health and will help managers to recognise the signs and offer support to people suffering from mental distress in the workplace and in the community.
A short introduction session to mental health focussing on the importance of understanding stress, early intervention and the impact on workplace wellbeing.
Live list of FREE mental health Training - England residents only
The license holder for Mental Health First Aid in Wales.
They directly train, license and support all instructors who deliver who deliver MHFA in Wales.
Find free and fee paying courses all over Scotland, supported by National Health Scotland.
BECTU Production Division Mental Welfare Policy
Bectu has launched a welfare policy to support the mental health of people working in film and TV.
Mental Health Events and Information
Other tools in the BECTU Mental Health Toolbox
BECTU Mental Health Hub - https://bectu.org.uk/topic/stress-and-mental-health/
Mental Health checklist - https://members.bectu.org.uk/advice-resources/library/2941
Right to disconnect - https://bectu.org.uk/news/right-to-disconnect/
Topics include: mental health at work, maintaining personal wellbeing , the impact of the pandemic.
Podcasts Hosted on PodBean
The Week is an opportunity for people to talk about all aspects of mental health, with a focus on providing help and advice.
Every Mind Matters has been created by Public Health England, with tips and advice developed with experts and approved by the NHS. It has also been endorsed by the Royal College of General Practitioners, and teamed up with Heads Up for the biggest weekend in football, the Emirates FA Cup Third Round, to promote simple steps to look after your mental health.
The Film & TV Charity
"Looking Glass Survey 2021" Final Report.
The new report, a follow-up to the charity’s 2019 research, provides a picture of working conditions in the film and TV industry and how these impact workers, based on responses from more than 2,000 workers.
The Film & TV Charity
"Looking Glass Survey 2020" Final Report.
Based on surveys taken in 2019, Lancaster University were commissioned to look at Mental Heath in the Film & Television Industries