[ NEW INITIATIVE ] THE FILM & TV CHARITY ADDRESSES MENTAL HEALTH IN UK SCREEN SECTOR
B uilding on its Looking Glass research, which showed alarming levels of stress, loneliness and suicidal ideation in film and TV professionals, The Film and TV Charity has unveiled a new initiative addressing mental wellbeing in the UK screen sector. Developed over 12 months with a pan- industry working group representing all major PSBs, studios, streamers, screen agencies and leading industry bodies, the initiative consists of nine principles built around three pillars: People Support, Content Impact and Work Planning. On the
list are leadership and culture, relationships on productions, mental health support, sensitive production content and themes, relationships with contributors, cast and presenters, production context, workload, working patterns and team structure, and role clarity. Each of the principles is underpinned by evidence-based and actionable guidance, offering producers, heads of departments and those in leadership roles simple steps that can be taken on productions regardless of size, genre or budget, to address and prevent
risks to worker wellbeing. The charity also confirmed that the launch marks the first step in a redevelopment of the Whole Picture Toolkit, which will evolve into a new suite of simple, easy-to-use digital tools and resources, launching in autumn 2026. “Today marks the biggest industry initiative to address mental health in film and television in a generation – and it could be game changing,” said Marcus Ryder, CEO at The Film and TV Charity. “That such a broad coalition of partners has come together to develop these pan-
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