Seven years and five surveys on from the first Looking Glass research in 2019, the Film and TV Charity’s latest report into mental health and wellbeing in film, TV, and cinema provides encouraging evidence that change is possible when the industry acts together. But the report also shows that the picture remains stark, with serious and widespread mental health challenges continuing across film, TV and cinema.

Are experiences of bullying, harassment and discrimination decreasing in film and TV?

One of the clearest signs of progress is the continued fall in experiences of bullying, harassment and discrimination, from 53% in 2021 to 41% in 2024 and 37% in 2026. The Looking Glass Survey has continued to shine a light on these issues, driving years of collective action from the Charity, industry organisations, stakeholders, and individuals.

While the numbers remain far too high, the finding shows how greater focus, clearer expectations, and stronger accountability are helping to improve people’s experiences, providing a powerful model for improving mental health and wellbeing across the industry.

The 2026 Looking Glass report also shows that since 2024:

31%

of respondents rate their mental health as 'poor' or 'very poor' - down from 35%

56%

of respondents say working in the industry negatively affects their mental health - down from 63%

25%

of respondents reported high levels of loneliness - down from 30%

23%

of respondents reported suicidal ideation over the preceding 12 months - down from 30%

Download the full 2026 Looking Glass Report PDF | 4.796 MB | English

How much has mental health in film and TV changed since 2019?

While these changes may seem small, even modest improvements can represent meaningful progress. A one percentage-point shift can equate to positive change for up to 2,500 people, so the impact becomes increasingly significant as these improvements build over time.

For example, the rise in people rating the industry as a mentally healthy place to work rose from 9% in 2019 to 13% in 2026 – this represents up to 12,500 people enjoying a more positive experience in the industry.

But progress is not being felt equally.

Poor mental health among freelancers has fallen from 38% to 31%
The gap with full-time employees has narrowed, with 29% of full-time staff reporting poor mental health in 2026 compared with 25% in 2024

And despite encouraging movement in some areas, the scale of the challenge remains significant:

62% have considered leaving the industry because of their mental health
Just 13% believe film and TV is a mentally healthy industry

What is the Film and TV Charity doing to improve mental health in the industry?

The Film and TV Charity is calling on the industry to build on the progress already achieved and bring the same collective focus that the issue of bullying has benefited from to the broader subject of industry mental health and wellbeing. Its Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions, supported by soon-to-be-released online tools, provide a shared framework for healthier working practices.

Alongside its work to drive long-term change, the Charity continues to provide free, immediate mental health, financial and workplace support to people behind the scenes, including our:

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.

Marcus Ryder, CEO at the Film and TV Charity

Ryder added, “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.”