Anti-Bullying Week: Comment

Anti-Bullying Week was originally created to raise awareness of bullying among young people, and as a way to try and curb the insidious effects that bullying can have on them. It’s organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, which has long recognised the threat to mental health and wellbeing posed by bullying in the UK.?

The behaviours experienced by too many people across the film and TV industry – and in wider society – sadly continue to demonstrate that it’s not just young people who fall foul of that threat. Our own research shows that 4 in 5 people working behind the scenes in film, TV and cinema have experienced or witnessed bullying or harassment, that anyone can be the target, and that the experience can directly and negatively impact mental health and wellbeing.?

Bullying is a cross-industry issue, which is why many of us are pulling together to prevent bullying and improve support to everyone affected by it. The combined work of BAFTA, BECTU, the BFI, Directors UK, ScreenSkills and Time’s Up – amongst many others – is crucial; and the Whole Picture Programme for better mental health has convened the leading industry employers to support our behaviour change campaign, Let’s Reset, with the aim of making work better for everyone. Collectively, we are committed to changing the culture and conditions that have for too long allowed bullying and harassment take place without meaningful recourse.?

Of course, change takes time – and the debate around how to improve things continues to evolve, as determined minds look for solutions and brave individuals continue to come forward with stories that make the need for those solutions ever more urgent.?

In the meantime, support is out there. Our Bullying Advice Service offers first-of-its-kind support for everyone who works in our industry, free through our Support Line (of which we are really proud!). If you need help or support, we are there with immediate, relevant help. We offer appointments with an industry expert advisor, which give you the chance to talk through your thoughts and experiences and receive industry-focused guidance to help you decide what to do next. Counselling, seeking legal advice, raising the issue at work or through broadcasters’ and commissioners’ own whistleblowing procedures – these are just some of the next steps to consider. Our advisor will help you understand your options and how to navigate them. The service will also help you to understand what other industry bodies can do if you bring a complaint to them.??

Also available through our website is Spot, a digital tool to help you create a safe, private record of any instances of bullying or harassment that you’ve experienced or witnessed. Spot will ask a series of questions to help you capture key details, organise your thoughts and keep them in one place. It could help you to identify a pattern of behaviour, handle a sensitive conversation in the future or give you something to refer back to later. If and when you’re ready, you can share the record by emailing it as an attachment.??

Whether you’d like support for yourself or for others in your network, you can find out more by visiting filmtvcharity.org.uk/bullying. Please make sure everyone knows about our services by sharing the number for our free, 24/7 Film and TV Support Line – 0800 054 00 00.??

We don’t want anyone to suffer in silence. This Anti-Bullying Week, #LetsReset?

Lucy Tallon, Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing at The Film and TV Charity