Wellbeing

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Embedding wellbeing as a core value within working cultures enables the workforce to thrive personally and professionally, develop resilience and improve productivity. SOLT and UK Theatre aim to improve the mental health of the sector by collecting and analysing data, collaborating with others, sharing guidance and best practice, and initiating change. 

Resources followed by an asterisk have either been produced, commissioned or supported financially by UK Theatre and Society of London Theatre.

We are continually looking to improve this page. If you have ideas, links, articles or examples of good practice that we can include, please email: ukt@soltukt.co.uk

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The list below outlines some of our current initiatives to improve mental health and wellbeing in theatre.

  • Remote Working Toolkit: Resources for organisations to identify the potential for remote and mixed model working and practical tips for implementation. Implementing remote working (where appropriate) may benefit your employees' mental health and wellbeing
  • Theatre Helpline (0800 915 4617): A free and confidential support line available 24/7 for anyone working in theatre and performing arts in the UK. Please see the tab below for more information. The Theatre Helpline offers advice and signposting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also email advice@theatrehelpline.org
  • Theatresupport.info: A website that signposts to all the different theatrical charities that can provide support and advice to theatre workers. Includes a flow chart to point you to the most appropriate charity for your situation.
  • UK Theatre Awards: Our annual awards include a Workforce Development category, which celebrates UK Theatre members who are working to improve organisational culture - this includes mental health and wellbeing support for staff.
  • Wellbeing webinars: In May 2021 we ran a series of 10 mental health and wellbeing webinars for the industry. Some are tailored specifically to managers, and some are suitable for all. The recordings of these webinars are still available and free to view.
Helplines
  • Backup Helpline0800 464 7068, Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm/9pm. Urgent and non-urgent wellbeing support for those working in the live technical entertainment industry
  • CALM Helpline: 0800 58 58 58, 7 days a week, 5pm-Midnight. Support, information and signposting, available to anyone
  • MIND Infoline0300 123 3393, Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm. Information and signposting service, available to anyone
  • Music Support Helpline0800 030 6789, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm. Listening service for anyone working in the UK music industry
  • OK Rehab: Specialises in local drug and alcohol rehab and addiction treatment, with a phone line to help you find clinics and assess your treatment options
  • Samaritans: 116 123, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Listening and support for anyone struggling to cope
  • Shout: Text SHOUT to 85258, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Free text service
  • Theatre Helpline*: 0800 915 4617, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Support and signposting for anyone working in the UK theatre industry
Counselling Services
  • Backup Helpline: This helpline offers a free phone service with a certified counsellor to provide initial support for people working in technical entertainment
  • Industry Minds: Offer a counselling service aimed at those in the arts who may be struggling but are unable to meet the usual pricey cost of therapy. Sessions are priced on a sliding-scale basis, and they fundraise to be able to cover the cost of sessions for artists who are facing financial hardship
  • Wellbeing in Theatre: Work with a range of counsellors across the UK who have specific experience of working in the arts. Available for both organisations and individuals
Industry Specific
  • A guide to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of musicians: A four part guide that includes healthy practices for mental wellbeing and advice on getting additional support. Led by statistics on musicians, but the advice within is applicable to all.
  • Arts Minds: An information hub set up by BAPAM, Equity, Spotlight and The Stage. There are a range of topics covered, from your health to your finances, and each topic has a collection of links to sources for help and advice.
  • British Association for Performing Arts Medicine: BAPAM delivers expert health and wellbeing services for those working in the performing arts, and their website features a wide range of resources for performing arts professionals
  • Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance: A national membership organisation representing everyone who believes that creativity and cultural engagement can transform health and wellbeing. Their website features a library of resources on different topics including freelance support and guidance for working online
  • IntAct Creatives: A multifaceted company dedicated to paving the way for well-being in the entertainment industry and beyond. There are five pillars of business - an Agency, Community (events & workshops), Coaching and Consultancy, Incident Report and Production.
  • Mental Health Tips for Arts Workers: An article from Shape Arts
  • The Hub's Balance Toolkit: Advice for creatives on how to have a healthier mind and a healthier business, this toolkit includes bitesize video clips, quick reads, audio content, exercises and illustrations, all designed to help you balance your mind and your books
General
Industry Specific
  • 6ft From The Spotlight: An organisation providing mental health support for crew in the theatre, film and TV industries
  • ABTT - Practical guide to conducting Stress Risk Assessments and creating wellbeing policiesThis Guidance Note is intended for use for businesses and organisations to offer guidance in beginning to access the hazards contributing towards work-based stress and offer support in how to mitigate against them
  • AMA - Developing Workplace Cultures: A blog post on how workplaces can become better at meeting the wellbeing and mental health needs of employees
  • AMA - Online Working and Online Safeguarding Guide: A general guide on meeting online and how to make the space welcoming and safe, and online safeguarding if you are working with vulnerable participants or groups
  • Applause for Thought: Facilitate free and low cost mental health support, talks, consultancy and mental health training for those working in the arts and entertainment industry
  • Be Extra: A non-profit organisation founded by creatives for whom the arts are central to their lives and mental health
  • Scottish Ballet's Wellness Work*: An article written by Sebastian Cater, Head of UK Theatre and Workforce Development, on how Scottish Ballet are supporting wellness in the workplace
  • Solas Mind: Provide professional, bespoke, therapeutic support services to production companies, studios, crew and creative freelancers, as well as coaching and training
General
  • Haptivate: A training provider and consultancy who base their work on the latest research into productivity, resilience and wellbeing at work
  • MIND - Wellness Action Plan Guidance: Wellness Action Plans are easy, practical ways of helping you support your own and your team members' mental health at work
  • MIND - Workplace Wellbeing Index: Helps you ascertain where your organisation is doing well and where you could improve your approach to mental health in the workplace
  • Suicide First Aid: Suicide prevention training that teaches and practices the skills and knowledge needed to identify someone who may be thinking about suicide and competently intervene to help create suicide-safety as a first-aid approach
  • The Wellbeing Project: A dedicated workplace wellbeing consultancy providing advice, wellbeing and resilience assessments and resources across all industries and sectors
Research & Data

The following research explores the mental health and wellbeing of the creative industries workforce:

The following research and reports explore the link between engagement with the arts and health and wellbeing: 

 The following research and reports cover general mental health and wellbeing in the UK population:

 

 

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"UK Theatre" is the operating name of UK Theatre Association, a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, whose registered office is at 32 Rose Street, London, WC2E 9ET, Company No 323204.