Charity publishes set of principles for mentally healthy productions

The principles have been developed over 12 months with a cross-sector working group of more than 45 organisations, including public service broadcasters, major studios, global streamers, screen agencies and industry bodies. Built around three pillars – People Support, Content Impact, and Work Planning – they offer a comprehensive, practical framework for embedding mentally healthy working practices into UK film and television.

The Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions are:

• Leadership and Culture – creating a culture that supports wellbeing
• Relationships on Productions – fostering respectful, inclusive relationships across teams
• Mental Health Support – making support visible and accessible
• Sensitive Production Content and Themes – managing the impact of difficult subject matter
• Relationships With Contributors, Cast, and Presenters – managing the impact of contributors, cast, and presenters on the team
• Production Context – creating supportive and safe working environments for all
• Workload – managing workload to protect wellbeing and performance
• Working Patterns – small adjustments can have a big impact on mental health
• Team Structure and Role Clarity – clear roles mean less stress

Each of the nine principles is underpinned by clear, evidence-based and actionable guidance. 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.

Grounded in the Film and TV Charity’s Looking Glass research, which continues to show alarmingly high levels of stress, loneliness, and suicidal ideation in film and TV compared with the wider UK workforce, the Principles are aligned with established standards including ISO 45003, the HSE Management Standards for Work-Related Stress, and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The Charity also confirmed that the launch marks the first step in a significant 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 and designed to support many more productions across every genre.

Talking about the Charity’s work to develop the Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions, Creative Industries Minister, Ian Murray, said: “Everyone working in the creative industries deserves to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect. The Film and TV Charity’s focus on mentally healthy productions is a fantastic step forward that will encourage much-needed change in the workforces of film and television. We welcome these Principles and will continue to work with the industry to ensure that creatives working in front of and behind the camera around the UK are guaranteed a safe and trustworthy work environment.”

Marcus Ryder, CEO at the Film and TV Charity, 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. Importantly, we already have the evidence that productions that use the Charity’s tools to adhere to these Principles enjoy better mental health outcomes. This is a major step towards creating healthier, fairer and more supportive working environments across UK production – and we can lead the way in showing global industry partners how embedding best practice can not only improve worker wellbeing but also deliver positive benefits to businesses too. We’re incredibly proud to have convened such a widespread range of truly exceptional partners to help drive this change.”

Anna Mishcon, Head of Industry Engagement, and Andy Glynne, Head of Programme Development for Mentally Healthy Productions, added: “These new Principles mark an important milestone for our industry. Building on the proven success of the Whole Picture Toolkit, they embed mental health and wellbeing at the core of how film and television are made in the UK. They signal a shared understanding across the sector that sustainable creativity relies on healthier, more responsible ways of working. We are deeply grateful to the many organisations that contributed their insight and expertise to shape Principles that are practical, credible, and achievable. This launch represents the beginning of a longer journey. The next phase is about putting the Principles into practice, integrating them into production planning and everyday decision making, so that mentally healthy working becomes routine, expected, and built in from the very start.” 

Sara Putt, BAFTA Chair and Film and TV Charity Vice Chair, said: “Across every stage of a screen industry career, our BAFTA talent programme participants and members tell us the same thing, that instability of freelance jobs, lack of access to training and skills development, the realities of production working conditions and pressures from fewer job opportunities, are not only driving a talent drain, but also having a profound impact on the mental health and wellbeing of our workforce.  As a result, we have put mental health and wellbeing best practice at the centre of our programmes, and we welcome further collaboration with the Film and TV Charity to embed these pan industry principles and guidance in order to equip all those working in our industries with the tools to sustain long-term, happy and fulfilling careers.”

Kate Phillips, Chief Content Officer, BBC, said: “The Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions, developed by the Film and TV Charity in collaboration with a pan-industry working group we were proud to be part of, represent a potential watershed moment for the UK creative sector’s duty of care to its production community. At the BBC, we are determined to seize this opportunity and are committed to embedding the Principles to drive meaningful, practical change in mental health and wellbeing across our productions. We also actively encourage our in-house production teams and third-party suppliers to give the Principles the same focus and priority, so that people working right across the industry can benefit - and so the industry itself can be stronger, healthier, and more sustainable as a result.”

Ian Katz, Chief Content Officer at Channel 4 commented: “We have tolerated shockingly high incidence of poor mental health in our industry for much too long so Channel 4 and Film4 are proud to support the launch of these Principles. Working together, we can set expectations for the wellbeing of those working on our productions to thrive and shape a future where people can do their best work without compromising their mental health.”

Angela Jain, Head of Content, Disney+ EMEA, said: “The British TV and film industry depends on the hard-working, creative teams behind our world-class content, and it’s vital we look after them. The Film and TV Charity’s work and research behind this initiative is incredible, confronting the issue head-on to deliver real, lasting change. Disney+ wholeheartedly supports the Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions and is fully committed to continue working with the Film and TV Charity and our production partners to implement them across our original productions in the UK.”