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MENTAL HEALTH•SPECIAL REPORT SPECIAL REPORT•MENTAL HEALTH Help at hand: (clockwise from top) Lori Rubinstein, executive director of Behind The Scenes Foundation, Lucy Tallon, head of mental health and well- being, at The Film & TV Charity, Sarah McCaffrey, founder of Solas Mind, Matt Longley from 6ft From The Spotlight Main image: Joshua Fuller THE SILENT I n the last few years, general attitudes And it’s not just on-set when the stress affects In addition, McCaffery from Solas Mind towards mental health at work have been lives, as Rubinstein clarifies, “There are intense advocates for the benefits of integrating therapeutic improving. However, following multiple periods, when you’re with your ‘work family’ way support, “I am really hopeful that it will become incidents in the film and TV industry, such more than your own family. Then, when you come standard practice for productions to partner with EMERGENCY as the tragic suicide of location manager off a job, suddenly you’re on your own without a professional counselling service to support crew Michael Harm in 2017, and a general lack of anything to do or that daily contact - that’s when the well-being,” she says. transparency and acceptance surrounding post-event depression can so very easily set in.” In Australia, the Australian Society Of this issue, something very serious is clearly What is vital to understand is that productions Cinematographers (ACS) recognises that mental going on behind-the-scenes. are legally obliged to look after the mental well- health is key to a balanced and productive career. In 2019, the UK’s Film & TV Charity being of everyone working for them. As Longley “As a society, the ACS are reviewing and commissioned research into how mental health explains, “In he UK, production companies and updating resources and comprehensively looking issues were impacting crew on and off-set, with commissioners have a legal duty of care to their into initiatives and collaborations with relevant By Kate Rolfe and Toria Wilson some shocking results. Matt Longley from 6ft From workforce’s mental health under the Health & Safety organisations to help support our members,” says The Spotlight was part of the working group. at Work Act 1974 and the Managing Health & Justine Kerrigan chair of the Diversity, Inclusion & We look at how mental health issues are What was apparent early-on was the depth of feeling that the survey had stimulated,” says Safety Regulation 1999. These state that the risks to stress and mental health of workers must be Reconciliation Committee of the ACS. “In Australia, there are a number of national spiralling out of control within the film and TV Longley. “There were over 9,000 responses and controlled, and that preventative measures must be organisations available for support. They include the results were stark: the link between working put in place, whilst also protecting anyone with an Beyond Blue, Heads Up and, specifically for industry, and what can be done to help. practices in the industry and the state of the workers’ existing illness. Productions should have a mental the performing arts industry, The Arts Wellbeing mental health was abundantly evident.” health and well-being policy in place and state Collective. This is an Arts Centre Melbourne The Looking Glass survey revealed that 87% clearly who is responsible.” initiative that is a collective of arts and cultural of respondents had experienced a mental health Rubinstein adds, “Education at every level is organisations working together to promote positive problem, compared to 42% generally across the UK required. Productions need to consider the impact that mental health and well-being.” population. More than half of the sample (55%) had contemplated taking their own life, compared with the schedules and atmosphere, which they create, have on people’s mental health. But it’s equally There are periods, “The industry guilds are perfectly positioned to provide guidance, education and support in 20% of people nationally. important that crew are aware and show respect and when you’re with your regard to mental health and well-being for their This critical situation is also a global issue. The consideration for those that they’re working with.” members,” adds Kerrigan. “Our once-a-month Behind The Scenes Foundation in the US teamed-up There is also a concerning link between ‘work family’ way more drop-in sessions can easily accommodate regular with Vibrant Emotional Health, which manages the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, for guidance on inequality and mental health that senior members of the industry need to be aware of, connected than your own family well-being sessions.” There is no doubt that the industry needs on- developing a Mental Health & Suicide Prevention by a bullying culture in the industry. The Looking going evaluation and to keep questioning what is Initiative for the industry. Glass report found that people’s ethnic and social normal and acceptable. In the UK, BECTU recently Lori Rubinstein, executive director of Behind The backgrounds were significant when understanding surveyed the industry about working hours and their Scenes Foundation, says, “Over the last few years, who experienced bullying and harassment, as well In the US, the Behind The Scenes Foundation effect on productivity, safety and well-being in its every conversation I had with people in the industry as their gender, sexuality, and visible and non-visible is sponsoring mental health first aid classes to train Eyes Half Shut report, and is currently calling for at some point came down to the issue of mental disabilities. people to recognise the signs of mental distress or a commission dedicated to reducing the industry’s health, as people were struggling with higher levels Kate Rolfe from Digital Orchard’s Foundation substance misuse. It has also been collaborating with long hours working culture. BECTU also has an of anxiety and depression and we were losing more explains “As part of our Equality In Focus training organisations such as Production Equipment Rental anti-bullying campaign called Unseen On Screen and more people to suicides or overdoses.” framework we work closely with 6Ft From Group (PERG) to spread the message. There are and is part of the Coalition For Change. The situation is not only dire for the individual The Spotlight specifically to acknowledge the many resources on the BTS website, such as a 24/7 Over in the US, the International Alliance Of going through it, but there is also a knock-on impact connection between inequality and mental health, peer-to-peer chat app, a ‘Find An Industry Therapist’ Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) is working to the wider production. The Deloitte report, titled training the industry how to address both of these tool and an online behavioural self-assessment. very closely with Behind The Scenes, “The union Mental Health And Employers, estimates that mental issues simultaneously and immediately.” 6ft From The Spotlight is currently working with has been incredibly supportive. I’ve given over 50 health problems cost the UK film, TV and cinema In the US, Behind The Scenes found that, BECTU Wales and others to trial a new role on- presentations in the last year and those who attend industries about £300 million a year. “bullying really cuts across all racial identities, all set - the ‘Wellbeing Facilitator’, who is dedicated to are really grateful that the IATSE clearly recognises As Longley explains, “Fatigue and stress can reduce gender identities, all parts of the industry, all ages. helping productions meet their duty of care to workers. the issue and wants to work on it on behalf of its cognitive behaviour and inhibit decision-making, One form bullying takes is a kind of cowboy culture members,” remarks Rubinstein. which is why the costs are so high in the Deloitte report. in the industry where someone says, ‘I worked 18 The global pandemic has obviously had a Workers have more accidents, which can be costly, hours yesterday, so why can’t you work 18 hours Film & TV Charity devastating effect on an already troubled industry. and there can be a high turnover of crew on some today’ or ‘I always work when I’m sick, why can’t www.filmtvcharity.org.uk Lucy Tallon warns, “We must consider the mental productions due to the stress. It is all a vicious circle.” you?” 0800 054 0000 pressure and anxiety people have experienced, Sarah McCaffrey, founder of UK-based Solas Suicide. Harassment. Talent quitting the industry. and be conscious of the fact that some people may Mind is also concerned, “There is a duty of care The consequences are wide and devastating. So 6ft From the Spotlight also have unresolved financial problems. sometimes missing in this wonderful industry. It feels what can we collectively do about this? www.6ftfrom.org “We’re concerned about the fact that fruitless to keep talking about filling the skills gap In February 2020, the Film & TV Charity 0800 054 0000 individuals from underrepresented groups in the if we are then losing amazing talents because we created the Whole Picture Programme to tackle industry have been disproportionately impacted don’t promote positive mental wellbeing, protect mental health difficulties in the business. Alongside Solas Mind by the Covid-19 crisis as well, which could send crew from unreasonable demands and behaviour, valuable discussion forums and free 24-hour Film www.solasmind.com us backwards on diversity initiatives at a moment or support them if they do struggle.” & TV Support Line, their online resources also +44 (0)7946 650438 when it’s more important than ever.” So why is the issue so endemic in the film help empower people who are experiencing or Behind The Scenes Foundation Rubinstein remains hopeful that the pandemic industry? The Looking Glass report found that there witnessing inappropriate behaviour. www.wp.behindthescenescharity.org has helped to accelerate a shift which otherwise were three major areas to focus on: conditions of Spot is a digital tool that people can use if they 001 212-244-1421 would have taken ten years or more. “Everybody is work; the industry’s culture; and its capability to aren’t ready to talk to someone but want to keep a talking about mental health now and so I’m hoping provide support for those who need it. completely confidential record, to help to identify Beyond Blue that this allows us to speed up this culture change.” McCaffery explains, “As an industry of a pattern of behaviour or manage a sensitive www.beyondblue.org.au McCaffery reflects, “In any disaster response freelancers with no clear HR processes, many crew conversation in the future. People can also make model there is a wiser living phase after the storm don’t want to be seen to be struggling, fearful that use of our new Bullying Pathway Service,”says Lucy Heads Up passes. I am ever hopeful this will be apparent in it will impact future job opportunities. There is still Tallon, head of mental health and well-being, at The www.headsup.org.au the film and TV industry as we emerge from the such stigma around speaking about mental health.” Film & TV Charity. +61 1300 22 4636 pandemic. The Arts Wellbeing Collective www.artswellbeingcollective.com.au +61 1800 959 500 68 MAY 2021 CINEMATOGRAPHY WORLD CINEMATOGRAPHY WORLD MAY 2021 69