Loneliness is a key driver of poor mental health among film and TV workers in the UK, according to a report by the Film and TV Charity.
The research, which was conducted in partnership with The Centre for Loneliness Studies at Sheffield Hallam University, found disproportionately high levels of loneliness experienced by people working behind the scenes in the industry.
These feelings were strongly influenced by work-related factors including a culture of long and irregular working hours, the transient nature of project-based employment, industry issues of bullying, harassment, and discrimination, and a persistent stigma around loneliness and mental health at work which prevents people from speaking up and seeking support.
The “Loneliness in the Film and TV Industry” report also found that those from underrepresented and disempowered backgrounds cited feeling “invisible”. This was especially true with freelancers, those with disabilities or long-term health conditions, and those who are workless, neurodivergent, from the Black and Global Majority, Muslim, carers, LGBTQ, or from working class background.
Using estimates from Deloitte’s annual report on the cost of poor mental health to UK employers (£51bn in 2024) and the DCMS figure that film and TV contribute around 0.8% of national gross value added, the Charity estimated poor mental health could be costing the screen industry £400m a year.
Looking ahead
It builds on the charity’s annual Looking Glass survey, which found, in 2024, that 35% of respondents reported their mental health as poor or very poor – compared to the national average of 18%. Additionally, 30% said they often felt lonely, compared to the national average of only 8%.
The research makes several recommendations to tackle loneliness in the film and TV industry including employers maintaining communication and relationships with freelancers after and between projects; measuring and tracking loneliness such as through workplace wellbeing surveys; the creation of inclusive opportunities for meaningful workplace connections; and formal ‘buddy’ and peer support systems.
Marcus Ryder, CEO of the Film and TV Charity, said: “With the creative industries often described as both the original gig economy and the ‘canary in the coalmine’ for workforce issues affecting freelancers, this research should be of critical significance for policymakers across multiple sectors.
“It should also act as a catalyst for important work to eradicate stigma around these kinds of conversations to ensure that there’s an industry-wide focus on changing things for the better rather than simply expecting individuals to ‘be more resilient’.”
The loneliness report was carried out using statistical analysis of the Looking Glass 2024 survey, interviews with members of the film and TV industry, and a focus group with industry members and employers.
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