The Film & TV Charity has launched the latest Looking Glass Survey to assess the current mental health and wellbeing of UK screen-sector workers.

The survey is aimed at all freelance workers and permanent employees involved in the development, creation, production, distribution, and exhibition of film, TV, and cinema.

The charity wants as many people as possible from across the UK’s nations and regions, as well as people from under-represented backgrounds, to take part. The survey is open to people currently working in the sector as well as people who have done in the last 12 months.

The 2024 Looking Glass survey will ask whether respondents have seen changes in working culture and behaviours, examine the prevalence of bullying and harassment, and the impact of working in the industry on people’s personal lives. It will also explore the relationship between financial wellbeing and mental health in the face of continued uncertainty across the industry.

Take the survey here

Marcus Ryder, CEO at the Film and TV Charity, said: “It’s more important than ever, wherever you work in the film, TV, and cinema industry, that you take just one more survey and find the time to engage with Looking Glass 2024. Over three prior iterations, our research has become a bellwether when it comes to mental health and wellbeing in the UK screen industries. The data we’ve gathered has enabled us not only to identify and provide the right support for thousands of workers, but also to take the conversation to the very people who can and should be effecting meaningful change where it’s needed.

“The most recent survey in 2022 indicated that many in the industry felt there were positive changes in attitudes and behaviours around mental health, but that was before the cost-of-living crisis, strikes and production downturn had begun their sustained assault on workplace wellbeing. For these reasons, it’s absolutely vital that we hear from everyone in every corner of the industry again now – so that the Film and TV Charity can develop its support, and so we can rewrite the script when it comes to mental health.”

Since 2019 – and in large part because of evidence uncovered through its Looking Glass surveys – the Film and TV Charity has expanded the mental health support services offered through its Film and TV Support Line, including free, quick access to in-the-moment support, counselling and other interventions.

It has also launched a confidential Bullying Advice Service, a self-service online Wellbeing Check-in, and developed its Wellbeing at Work support. It’s free online resource, the Whole Picture Toolkit for mentally healthy productions, has helped to embed best practice on more than 200 productions of all sizes and in all genres.

You can find out more about the survey here.