BTS Launches Mental Health Survey - Please Help Spread the Word

[dvsDave]

Behind the Scenes, in response to concerns about the rising number of suicides and the prevalence of alcohol/substance misuse within the entertainment industry, is beginning work on a Mental Health and Suicide Prevention initiative and wants to get a sense of how many people in the industry are experiencing anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide, problems with alcohol/substance misuse, or reactions to traumatic events.

The goal of the initiative is to provide easily accessible information, tools, and resources to members of the entertainment technology industry that will offer:

• Resources for individuals to make it easier to self-identify issues and seek help in early-stage as well as crisis situations
  
  
• Tools and training that will increase industry members’ confidence about how to reach out and provide assistance to individuals in need of support
  
  
• Employers and supervisors with tools and resources to become effective leaders in
  
  
  • Changing the culture regarding mental health
    
    
  • Identifying and supporting at-risk individuals
    
    
  • Responding to a mental health crisis such as suicide or accidental overdose
    
    
  • Reintegrating individuals who have been impacted by a mental health or substance misuse crisis back into the workplace

Joining Behind the Scenes in developing this initiative are representatives of major stakeholder groups such as IATSE, The Broadway League, NBCUniversal, and MusiCares as well as individuals from around the industry willing to share their unique knowledge of this subject.

The first step in developing the program is to learn from you, the industry, how prevalent you believe these issues are and what tools and resources would be helpful to you personally or in assisting someone you are concerned about.

We seek to reach a wide and diverse group of respondents with this survey. Please help us reach as many people as possible by forwarding this survey to your co-workers and colleagues.

All information will be reviewed and published only in aggregate and will not include any information that identifies any individual participant. All responses will be kept private and confidential to the extent permitted by law.

To participate in the survey go to: btslink.org/survey

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

The Behind the Scenes charity provides entertainment technology professionals who are seriously ill or injured with grants that may be used for basic living and medical expenses. For more information about Behind the Scenes, to donate, or to apply for a grant, visit www.btshelp.org.

 

[dvsDave]

I just got a follow-up email from Behind The Scenes.

Behind the Scenes Announces Remarkable Response to
Mental Health Survey

Behind the Scenes announces that its recent “Survey to Assist in the Development of a Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative in the Entertainment Industry” received an incredible response from the industry with over 3300 people completing the survey. We are humbled by the amazing number of people who shared their stories with us about personal challenges and struggles or those of friends and family.

The members of the BTS Mental Health Initiative Steering Committee have reached out directly to thank those participants for whom we had contact information, but we want to make sure that everyone who took the survey knows how appreciative we are of their participation.

The information provided is invaluable as we begin the development of this initiative. Because so many people responded with such a wealth of information, it is going to take us a little longer than expected to work our way through the responses. We want to be sure we understand the issues industry members face and the obstacles that might prevent them or those they care about from seeking and utilizing mental health resources.

An initial look at the survey results confirmed what many already knew – that the long hours, pressures of deadlines, lack of resources, and uncertainty of employment have taken a very hard toll on our industry. These affect not only mental health, but physical health as well, and impact relationships with family and friends. Unsurprisingly, over 90% of respondents have experienced anxiety while over 80% have suffered from depression.

What is also apparent from the responses, and very encouraging, is that many individuals want to step up and help colleagues they feel are struggling but simply don’t know how and are very concerned about making things worse. Our goal is to provide information and resources that will give industry members the confidence to act.

If you did not participate in the survey but would like to be kept informed of the initiative’s progress or participate in future surveys, please email [email protected].