A few weeks ago, the Film and TV Charity published its latest Looking Glass survey, the largest study of its kind, examining the mental health and wellbeing of people working in the UK’s film, television and cinema industries. The results were not unexpected, but they were still deeply troubling.

More than a third of respondents rated their mental health as “poor” or “very poor”, while 30% reported having thoughts of taking their own life in the past 12 months. Only 12% of respondents believed the industry was a mentally healthy place to work. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, almost two-thirds (63%) said their work in film and TV has a negative effect on their mental health.

As CEO of the Film and TV Charity, these findings weigh heavily on me. My role is not just about reacting to crises but also about transforming the industry to be a healthier, more supportive environment. Our work falls into two categories: “downstream” – helping those in immediate need through our 24-hour helpline and free counselling services – and “upstream” – addressing the root causes of poor mental health in the industry.

This morning, I began my day with an “upstream” focus. I hosted a breakfast with representatives from major production companies to gather feedback on our work towards creating a pan-industry set of mental health standards. The response was overwhelmingly positive and constructive. Even after a year in this role, I remain inspired by the goodwill and commitment that so many UK media companies have towards improving mental wellbeing in our industry. I am hopeful that we will soon have a set of agreed standards that will make a tangible difference.

Later in the morning, I had a stark reminder of our “downstream” responsibilities. A senior television executive reached out regarding a colleague in urgent need of help. While I am not a mental health expert, I know the value of having a strong team, and I was able to connect them swiftly with our head of client services.

Being able to delegate such critical situations to experienced professionals is something that I deeply appreciate as a CEO. It allows us to respond quickly and effectively to those who are in crisis.

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of activity. I worked with our research team on a new report examining international tax and benefit policies for creative freelancers. This research could lead to better financial security for UK industry workers.

I also finalised details for the next round of “Reel Impact”, our grants scheme supporting black and global majority creatives to overcome systemic barriers. And, in-between, I advised our fundraising team on a comedy night being organised by Avalon to raise much-needed funds for our services.

As the day drew to a close, I was reminded of how mental health challenges affect all of us – even those of us working to solve them. I received a text regarding complications following my 88-year-old mother’s knee surgery. Immediately, I cancelled my plans to attend an industry event at Bafta and rushed home.

Caring for a loved one is rewarding but undeniably stressful. People with caregiving responsibilities often experience heightened mental health struggles. Today, I felt that firsthand.

This moment reinforced an important truth: if we truly care about mental wellbeing in the industry, we must extend that care to ourselves as well. We cannot support others effectively if we are running on empty. In the words of airline safety instructions: “Put on your own oxygen mask first.”

Tomorrow is another day. And the work continues.

Marcus Ryder is CEO of the Film and TV Charity.