Industry at risk of skilled worker exodus, warns Film and TV Charity

The charity has published its full assessment of its 2024 Looking Glass Survey following the earlier release of headline data that showed mental health in the industry has worsened.

The full report paints a bleak picture of the state of mental health and wellbeing among professionals working behind the scenes in the UK. However, the charity said a deeper dive into the data also shows that efforts to improve industry culture and conditions are starting to pay dividends. 

As previously reported, from more than 4,300 responses to the survey, 64% are considering leaving the industry due to concerns about mental health, with 32% having taken firm steps to do so. 63% said their work in the industry has a negative effect on their mental health.

On a more positive note, the charity said targeted interventions are starting to yield results. This was seen among respondents who had used the Charity’s Whole Picture Toolkit, its free online resource to improve mental health on productions. 

While only 12% of respondents felt that the industry is a mentally healthy place to work, this number rose to 25% among respondents who had worked on a production using the Whole Picture Toolkit.

The report also explores the impact of macro-level challenges on mental health in the industry, and found the industry-wide production downturn has exacerbated the mental health crisis for many. However, there has been a significant decrease in the number of people working excessive hours.

It also found that attitudes to those experiencing mental health issues have improved and the number of people experiencing bullying, harassment, or discrimination has declined.

The report also shows that there is an even greater risk of poor mental health for certain groups within the industry. Freelancers, workers with a disability or long-term health condition, neurodivergent workers, LGBTQ+ workers, carers, people from the Black and Global Majority, women, and younger workers are even more susceptible to poor mental health and issues linked to worklessness, bullying, harassment, and discrimination.

“The results of the 2024 Looking Glass Survey underline that the industry has to go much further to address urgent, persistent issues relating to mental health in our industry,” said Film and TV Charity CEO Marcus Ryder. “We are at risk of seeing a potential exodus of skilled and experienced workers, from directors to scriptwriters, and from directors of photography to set designers – with 64% of survey respondents saying they were considering leaving the industry and 32% already having taken firm action to do so. It would be wrong to attach this risk solely to the mental health crisis the industry is facing, but there is no doubt it is a major contributory factor.”