Mental Health and Wellbeing

Helplines

• Backup Helpline: 0800 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 Infoline: 0300 123 3393, Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm. Information and signposting service, available to anyone
• Music Support Helpline: 0800 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

• ACAS: Guidance on supporting mental health at work
• Better Health's Home Workout Videos: Free and easy ten minute workouts from the NHS's Better Health programme
• Burnout in the Digital Age: How to Avoid Workplace Stress: An article discussing what burnout is and how you can manage workplace stress in an era of multiple screens and constant communication
• Every Mind Matters: An NHS resource that provides simple tips and advice to start taking better care of your mental health
• NHS mental health and wellbeing advice website: Visit the website for self-assessment, audio guides and practical tools if you are experiencing stress, feelings of anxiety or low mood
• The Complete Guide to Managing Insomnia: An in-depth guide about managing insomnia and healthy sleep
• What you need to know about Insomnia: A complete guide to insomnia including an overview of the symptoms, causes, treatments and prevention 
• Working from home: A guide to creating a healthy and productive workspace at home: Includes practical tips and advice to manage health and maintain work-life balance whilst working from home
• Your Home and Your Wellbeing: An article exploring how to achieve a work-life balance while working from home

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 policies: This 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:

• Professor Rosie Perkins' research at the Royal College of Music   
• The Looking Glass Mental Health and Wellbeing study commissioned by the Film and TV Charity
• UK Backstage Entertainment Industry Wellbeing Evaluation 2021 commissioned by The Alliance of Associations & Professionals in Theatre and Live Events 
• Preventative Care in the UK Creative Industries 2022 report by PlayWell
• Equity global scoping review of factors related to poor mental health and wellbeing within the performing arts sectors by Dr Lucie Clements, commissioned by Equity 
  

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

• APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) on Arts, Health and Wellbeing
  Arts Engagement and Wellbeing
  Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing
  The Role of Arts and Cultural Organisations in Health and Wellbeing
  The Role of the Arts and Culture in Social Care

• Health and Wellbeing Impacts of Arts and Culture - multiple studies from Culture Case
• Older People and Professional Participatory Arts in the UK - The Baring Foundation
• The Arts, Health & Wellbeing: why the arts make us happier and healthier - Cultural Learning Alliance
• The Role of Arts in Improving Health and Wellbeing - UCL report for DCMS

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

• Health and Wellness Post-Covid: Trends and Statistics for 2022