Work well with vulnerable contributors and sensitive content

Review the script or series/programme overview, as early as possible, to identify difficult or potentially traumatic content.

Carry out a mental health risk assessment (MHRA) at the earliest opportunity, if you haven’t already created one when agreeing a wellbeing plan.

Creating an MHRA will help you identify potential risks, take preventative measures and provide appropriate support for your production.

Discuss potentially sensitive content with your editorial teams, review any script or editorial developments and ensure you clarify the status and background of all contributors taking part in filming.

You should also re-examine your script and content, and your MRHA, at regular intervals throughout production.

A production must take reasonable steps to fulfil its legal duty of care to contributors, and taking the above measures will help demonstrate the production is aiming to prevent and reduce any potential for psychological harm.

In the following guide, you can:

• Understand why a mental health risk assessment (MHRA) is important
• Download an MHRA template and an example MHRA

Create a mental health risk assessment

Provide additional mental health support, such as an online counselling support service or bespoke therapy, for team members working directly with any content identified as potentially traumatic.

Make sure this support includes aftercare that extends beyond the shoot.

In the following guides for line managers, you can:

• Examine the potential impact of working with sensitive content and vulnerable contributors
• See what support to offer
• Understand duty of care and safeguarding
• Learn how to navigate sensitive conversations

Support those working with sensitive content

Support those working with vulnerable contributors

We’re used to warning viewers at home or in the cinema about content – but not those involved in creating it.

Trigger warnings should be given to all team members, from development, to loggers, through to post-production.

Discuss specific support regarding your production’s content.

For example:

• If the content includes intimate scenes, consider using an intimacy coordinator and follow best practice Intimacy on Set guidelines, where appropriate, to ensure agreement and consent is always adhered to.
• If your project includes a storyline related to mental health, you can contact Mind’s media advisory team for information on how to portray mental health on-screen without perpetuating stigma.
• If your production contains themes of trauma, such as suicide or domestic violence, you can engage a psychologist specialising in these fields to offer specific support and guidance.

Don’t forget about those who might not be present during filming, but will be looking through the rushes or dailies dailies – the raw, unedited footage filmed during the day in film and drama. They are also known as “rushes” or “sweatbox sessions” in the animation industry because of the tiny, hot screening rooms where they screen the dailies. Close of the production.

In the following guide, you can:

• Learn when and how to use a trigger warning
• Find examples of triggers

Trigger warning guidance and sample wording

Everyone has different support structures in place in their personal lives.

If you think someone might need more support, make sure they know who they can discuss their concerns with.

This might be:

• Someone in your team
• A wellbeing facilitator wellbeing facilitator – they work as part of a production; they advise producers and heads of department on how to prevent mental ill health and inappropriate behaviour and can help intervene early when issues arise. Close
• An employee assistance programme employee assistance programme – an employee benefit that provides your team with support and practical advice on issues that might be impacting their wellbeing and performance. It generally includes face-to-face, telephone or online counselling, and expert support on both personal and work-related issues. Close
• The free 24/7 Film and TV Support Line on 0800 054 0000
• The Film and TV Charity’s online mental health and wellbeing resources

Ultimately, it’s a production’s responsibility to identify potential risks to wellbeing and mental health and offer all crew members appropriate support.

However, there are valuable steps individuals can take to help protect their own wellbeing when working with sensitive material or vulnerable contributors.

Consider how you can support everyone on your production to look after themselves, and share helpful resources.

Share the following guides for individuals to help crew:

• Manage and limit their exposure to sensitive content
• Put healthy boundaries in place when working with contributors
• Consider actions to support their own wellbeing

Self-care when working with sensitive content

Self-care when working with vulnerable contributors

As we regularly review Toolkit content, if you have any suggestions to improve this guide, or any part of the site, we would love to hear from you.