Managing the impact of contributors, cast, and presenters on the people behind the camera was one of nine Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions unveiled last night by the Film & TV Charity, which it called the “biggest industry initiative to address mental health in film and television in a generation.”
Along with the likes of the BBC, Channel 4 and Netflix, the charity has spent the past year developing the principles, which were revealed at an event at Channel 4’s Horseferry Road HQ.
These principles include managing the impact of contributors, cast, and presenters on the team, managing the impact of difficult subject matter, and managing workload to protect wellbeing and performance. Others focus on leadership, culture, working patterns and team structure. The principles can be read below.
Managing the impact of contributors, cast, and presenters has become a bigger part of the conversation following high-profile examples like Russell Brand, Huw Edwards and Gregg Wallace, which have impacted industry mental health.
The guidance offers producers, heads of department, and those in leadership roles simple steps that can be taken on productions regardless of their size, genre, or budget, to address and prevent risks to worker wellbeing, the charity said.
Multiple big players will start piloting the principles on their shows including Channel 4, Disney, Banijay and Sky.
Last night’s event was attended by content chiefs at the BBC and Channel 4.
Poor mental health has been a scourge on the film and TV industry for a long time and research has consistently shown that people working in the sector are suffering, especially with the current downturn in work.
Charity boss Marcus Ryder said: “Today marks the biggest industry initiative to address mental health in film and television in a generation – and it’s one that could be truly game-changing. That such a broad coalition of partners has come together to develop these pan-industry Principles shows the depth of our shared determination to tackle the long-standing challenges affecting our workforce.”
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