Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions in film and TV
What are the Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions?
The Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions are a landmark framework, designed to transform how film and TV productions approach mental health and wellbeing. Developed in partnership with more than 45 organisations, they provide clear, practical guidance to help productions create psychologically safe environments and meet their legal responsibilities.
The Principles are grounded in the Charity’s Looking Glass research, which since 2019 has shown consistently higher levels of poor mental health across the sector compared to the general population. They translate this evidence into actionable steps tailored to the realities of production.
Who are the Principles for?
The Principles are designed for everyone involved in production, including:
- Producers and Executive Producers
- Heads of Department
- Production Managers
- Freelancers
- Commissioners and financiers
- Production companies and studios
They encourage shared responsibility and collaboration from development to delivery.
Risks to mental health in film and TV production
Poor mental health and wellbeing doesn’t just affect individuals, it can also impact productions through:
- Increased crew turnover
- Delays and disruption
- Lost productivity
- Millions in avoidable costs every year
By embedding simple, proactive measures into the way productions are planned and run, people in leadership positions and teams can build a culture that protects mental health, reduces risk, and helps everyone do their best work. They are practical, adaptable and relevant across all genres, budgets, and in every stage of production.
Coming soon: A new Toolkit for Mentally Healthy Productions
Later this year we will be launching a suite of new and improved digital tools to replace the Whole Picture Toolkit, which will support productions and organisations to implement the Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions and embed mental health best practice.
Join our early access list to be notified when the tools become available and be among the first organisations to create your mental health action plan.
A practical framework for every production
The Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions are built around three core pillars that apply across all genres, budgets, and stages of production:
The three principes relating to supporting people on productions are focused on:
- Leadership and Culture – creating a culture that supports wellbeing
- Relationships on Productions – fostering respectful, inclusive relationships across teams
- Mental Health Support – making support visible and accessible
The three principles that consider the impact of content on an individual’s mental health and wellbeing, are:
- Sensitive Production Content and Themes – managing the impact of difficult subject matter
- Relationships With Contributors, Cast, and Presenters – managing the impact of contributors, cast, and presenters on the team
- Production Context – creating supportive and safe working environments for all
The final three principles, linked to the impact of work planning, are focused on:
- Workload – managing workload to protect wellbeing and performance
- Working Patterns – small adjustments can have a big impact on mental health
- Team Structure and Role Clarity – clear roles mean less stress
How the Principles support legal compliance and wellbeing
All productions in the UK have a legal duty to protect workers from risks to both physical and mental health. The Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions help productions meet that duty by:
- Identifying potential stressors early
- Embedding processes to reduce or control those risks
- Encouraging open conversation between producers, teams, commissioners, studios, and financiers
The Principles are not mandatory, prescriptive rules and productions don’t need specialist expertise to use them. They are supported by simple, evidence-based actions that any production – regardless of genre, budget or stage of production – can implement to help create mentally healthy workplaces and to meet their legal obligations.
Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions
The full brochure PDF includes:
- The complete nine principles
- Clear, actionable steps for each
- Recommended templates, tools, and resources
- Guidance for risk assessment and wellbeing planning
Download the full framework and begin building a mentally healthy production today.
Join early access list
Later this year we will be launching a suite of new and improved digital tools to replace the Whole Picture Toolkit, which will support productions and organisations to implement the Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions and embed mental health best practice.
Join our early access list to be notified when the tools become available and be among the first organisations to create your mental health action plan.
Summary
The Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions are an industry-backed framework developed by the Film and TV Charity. It's purpose is to help UK film and television productions reduce mental health risks, strengthen leadership, protect cast and crew, and meet legal duties.
Built on sector research, they provide practical, evidence-based actions across people support, content impact, and work planning.