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Hollywood’s Mental Health Crisis: UK Screen Industry Faces Fresh Reckoning As Scandal & Suicide Strengthen Calls To Make Well-Being Support On Sets A Mainstay
Before TV producer John Balson took his own life, he told loved ones he wanted to raise awareness about mental health and burnout in the industry.
“You can have all the helplines and anti-bullying [initiatives], but if people can’t get jobs and put food on the table, that’s the thing that’s going to drive them [to the brink].” He recalls a recent story from a single mom in the industry, who had to sell her furniture to keep providing meals for her children. CEO Jen Smith, who used to work for the BFI, says CIISA’s independent nature will act as a “circuit breaker” for bullying and harassment, which can of course be hugely detrimental to mental health and wellbeing and has reared its head with recent cases such as Brand and Noel Clarke, both of whom deny the allegations made against them. The five-staff-strong CIISA is in the midst of its next funding round, unveiled a top UK lawyer as its new chair on Thursday and a full launch is anticipated soon, with Bectu’s Childs praising broadcasters and indies for showing a “tangible commitment” towards the body.
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