The Film and TV Charity has released its latest findings on the mental health and wellbeing of workers in the film, TV and cinema sectors.
Publishing its 2026 Looking Glass report, the charity found that while some progress has been made in the seven years since its initial survey, 56 per cent of respondents still say working in the industry is harmful to their mental health.
Reported experiences of bullying, harassment and discrimination continue to fall, down from 53 per cent in 2021 to 37 per cent in 2026, following “years of collective action” from the charity, organisations and individuals in the sector.
Self-ratings of poor or very poor mental health are down from 25 per cent in 2024 to 31 per cent, with the numbers stating the industry negatively affects their mental health at 56 per cent, down from 63 per cent two years ago.
Feelings of loneliness over the same period have declined from 30 per cent to 25 per cent, with suicidal ideation over the preceding 12 months falling from 30 per cent to 23 per cent.
The charity pointed out that a one-percentage point can equate to positive change for up to 2,500 people, increasing the significance of improvements over time. For example, the rise in people stating the industry provided a mentally healthy workplace from 9 per cent to 13 per cent represents a figure of 12,500 people.
Progress is still unequal, said the charity. Freelancers reporting poor mental health has dropped from 38 per cent to 31 per cent, but the figure for full-time employees has grown from 25 per cent two years ago to 29 per cent, narrowing the gap.
Other findings include:
- 62 per cent have considered leaving the industry because of their mental health.
- Only 13 per cent believe film and TV is a mentally healthy industry.
Commenting, Marcus Ryder, CEO of the Film and TV Charity, said, “The evidence from the Looking Glass Survey gives us reason for hope, but not for complacency. Our data clearly shows that collective action can drive real progress, but it also shows that too many people working behind the scenes are still struggling with the pressures our industry is too often placing on their mental health.
“Film and TV is an interconnected industry, where decisions made in one part can affect people throughout it. That interconnectedness is one of our strengths, but it can also make it too easy for responsibility for change to fall between the gaps. If we want to create a mentally healthy industry, responsibility must be shared, and everyone has a part to play.
“The fact that a single percentage-point shift can represent up to 2,500 people experiencing the industry differently shows why every improvement matters. The challenge now is to build on that progress, applying the same collective focus to other issues affecting mental health and wellbeing, embracing the Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions and turning collective action into lasting change.”
The Film and TV Charity has called on the industry to build on its achievements, bringing the same focus on broader mental health and wellbeing it has applied to the issue of bullying. The full Looking Glass report is available to download here.
