The Freelance Reality of the Industry
Most of the film and TV workers are freelancers. And although as an industry we’re used to this way of working – and to building quick and strong working relationships with the colleagues we are going to be with for long days over several weeks or months – our working lives are still very different from an employee who goes to the same workplace every day, sits next to the same colleagues on a long-term basis, and who is on a permanent staff contract with all the security that brings.
What We Hear from Cast and Crew
When WBFs are confidentially exploring with someone the stresses or poor mental health they’re experiencing on set, we often discuss whether this is something they’d like to share with production – because sharing could lead to some reasonable adjustments being made or some additional support being put in place for them.
Crew and cast are often adamant that they don’t want production to know about their issues, and we respect that. Here are some of the most common pushbacks we hear:
• If I tell them they will get rid of me. They won’t want me on the job.
• It will work against me in the future and stop me from getting other jobs.
• They don’t care – they’ll just tell me to get on with it.
• It will make me look weak and people on the production won’t respect me.
• I’m ashamed of my condition and I don’t want anyone to know about it.
The Themes Behind the Silence
There are some general themes we can pull from these responses. Firstly, there’s the belief that mental health conditions are stigmatising, and colleagues will view them differently if they disclose them. Secondly, there’s the worry that disclosure will affect their future careers or employment prospects in some way. And thirdly, there’s the thought that producers aren’t sympathetic to mental health challenges.
Our Role as WBFs
As WBFs, we are in a unique position to explore these themes with both the people who come to us with their difficulties and with the people in charge on a production. Our ultimate goal at 6ft From The Spotlight is to change perceptions about mental health and to create mentally healthy productions.
Do Producers Care? Our Experience Says Yes.
Let’s start with the idea that producers don’t really care about the mental health of their cast and crew. Our experiences as WBFs on set would seem to suggest otherwise, and we frequently see best practice in action:
• A quiet room for those with ADHD to step away to.
• A crew member given an hour or more during the working week to meet with their therapist on Zoom.
• Trauma therapy provided for a crew member who witnessed a suicide on their journey to work.
• Counselling made available for crew and cast after social unrest hit the UK in summer 2024.
These are just a few real-life examples of producers responding to poor mental health on set – and they occurred because crew members had had the courage to step forward and say, “I think I need a bit of help.”
The Industry Is Changing
The industry is changing, and we are witnessing this change. By working with producers from the pre-production stage (in an ideal world!), we can suggest strategies to build those mentally healthy productions where people are not concerned about speaking up.
Creating a culture of openness around mental health in the workplace is the first step in this process.
Front-Loading Information
Front-loading information is a really useful way of destigmatising mental health issues and reinforcing the message that a production company cares. Some of the documents that can be emailed out in advance of the shoot are:
• A Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy
• An Anti-bullying Policy
• Details of sources of support such as an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) or the Film & TV Charity helpline
• Details of support services offered by BECTU and Equity
It’s crucial that these important resources don’t get lost among all the other attachments that go out in the week before production. A dedicated email with a title like Important Mental Health and Wellbeing Information will help crew and cast understand that a production is seriously committed to good mental health on set.
Using the “Working Well with Me” Form
As WBFs, we will often send out a Working Well with Me form when we join a production, along with details about the service we offer. In this form, crew and cast are given the opportunity to think about and share information about their mental health – whether that’s a specific challenge or pressure they are facing, longer-term mental health conditions, or more general information about what makes them feel mentally healthy at work.
There’s no obligation to fill out the form, or to share the information with anyone beyond the WBF, but it’s an incredibly useful tool for identifying in advance someone who might need some extra support or could feel isolated on set.
Encouraging Early Conversations
Sometimes it can be the last day of the shoot – or even the wrap party – when a seemingly happy crew member finally offloads to the WBF that they were under huge mental stress during filming. Of course, the WBF will listen supportively and can often follow up with helpful resources, but if they’d come to the WBF earlier, the simple process of sharing their difficulties might have made the journey easier.
A commitment to openness about mental health from producers – and reiterating this on call sheets and emails throughout the shoot – will help to encourage people to speak up early.
A Healthier Industry Starts Here
Mental health shouldn’t be a hidden struggle on set. When productions show they care, people respond. By normalising mental health conversations and embedding support from the start, we can build an industry where everyone feels safe to ask for help – and get it.
Written by 6ft From The Spotlight Wellbeing Facilitator, Ruth Wallace
