Mental Wellbeing Webinars Announced for the Screen Sector

On World Mental Health Day, Film Art Media - the filmmakers behind acclaimed ABC documentaryThe Show Must Go On announced four customised mental wellbeing webinars to take place in November 2020. Screen Well is the first initiative of its kind to focus on improving the wellbeing of screen practitioners, which is falling behind other parts of the entertainment industry.

Since June, filmmaker and mental health advocate Ben Steel has been collaborating with screen guilds, unions, and interests groups to identify core wellbeing issues facing the sector, as well as working alongside mental health professionals to design the four wellbeing webinars titled Crew Well, Create Well, Perform Well and Lead Well. It builds on the highly successful Wellness Roadshow designed in collaboration with Film Art Media and Impact Producer, Diana Fisk which has rolled out nationally since the release of The Show Must Go On documentary.

Screen Well creator Ben Steel said: “The music and live performance industries are very proactive in the wellbeing space, providing many customised resources, events, and support through entries such as Support Act and the Arts Wellbeing Collective - the screen industry is sadly lagging very far behind, but I’m hopeful that these webinars will be the catalyst to help change that.”

Funded through Screen Australia’s Industry Partnerships program, the four free webinars will commence on 9 November, and each customised session will have a different focus to address the needs of the four main cohorts of screen workers; Teams (Crew members), Creators (Writers, Directors, Designers, Editors, Producers), Performers (Actors, Agents/Managers, Casting Directors), and Leaders (Heads of Departments). Speakers will include creative business advisor Monica Davidson, Tracy Margieson program manager of the Arts Wellbeing Collective, and renowned psychologist/author Dr Julie Crabtree, among others.

Psychologist and author Dr Julie Crabtree said: “Coronavirus has brought profound awareness to underlying challenges many in the screen industry have faced for a very long time, such as; isolation, uncertainty, financial and mental health stress. This moment in time has created an appetite for understanding, self-growth, and meaningful change which I’m excited to help facilitate in these wellbeing webinars.”.

Long before Coronavirus hit our shores, mental health challenges within the screen sector were more severe than the general population. In the wake of COVID-19, now more than ever screen industry workers are in need of support to strengthen their wellbeing.

Screen Australia CEO, Graeme Mason said, “This year has been incredibly difficult for many people working in our sector as they navigate the challenges of COVID-19. It’s important we pay close attention to our mental health during this time and I encourage everyone to take advantage of these webinars.”