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Mental Health First Aiders On Set
In general, the role of a Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) on set is a point of contact for cast and crew who is experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a growing mental health crisis in the UK with one in four adults experiencing mental illness each year. The MHFA interaction could range from having an initial conversation through to supporting the person to get appropriate help.
As well as in a crisis, our Mental Health First Aiders are valuable in providing early intervention help for someone who may be developing a
mental health issue.
We are here to support your next production with our dedicated MHFAs
How common are mental health problems?
1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England.
1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England.
Specific Diagnoses
In any given week in England:
- Mixed anxiety and depression: 8 in 100 people
- Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD): 6 in 100 people
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): 4 in 100 people
- Depression: 3 in 100 people
- Phobias: 2 in 100 people
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): 1 in 100 people
- Panic disorder: fewer than 1 in 100 people.
A person's diagnosis may change several times during their life. Some complex conditions are measured by how many people will be given this diagnosis over the course of their lifetime, or in any given year:
- Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD): 3 in 100 people (in their lifetime)
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD): 2 in 100 people (in their lifetime)
- Bipolar disorder: 2 in 100 people (in their lifetime)
- Psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia): fewer than 1 in 100 people (in any given year)
But estimates for these diagnoses can vary quite a lot. Also, personality disorder and schizophrenia are controversial diagnoses. These labels can be stigmatising. And many people feel that they shouldn't be used at all.
Suicidal Thoughts and Self-Harm
Suicidal thoughts and self-harm aren’t mental health diagnoses. But they are related to mental health. Over the course of someone’s lifetime.
- 1 in 5 people have suicidal thoughts
- 1 in 14 people self-harm
- 1 in 15 people attempt suicide
Women are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and make suicide attempts than men. But men are 3 times more likely to take their own life than women.
Our Mental Health First Aiders Are Trained To
- Support your next production as a dedicated MHFA or our medics are fully trained MHFA
- An in-depth understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing
- Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
- Start a supportive conversation with a colleague who may be experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress
- Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening
- Confidence to step in, reassure and support a person in distress
- Knowledge to help someone recover their health by guiding them to further support - whether that’s self-help resources, through their employer, the NHS, or a mix
- Assess the risk of suicide or self-harm
- Encourage the person to access appropriate professional support or self-help strategies. This might include encouraging access to internal support systems such as EAPs or in-house counselling services
- Escalate to the appropriate emergency services, if necessary
- Maintain confidentiality as appropriate
- Complete critical incident documents as and when necessary
- Protect themselves while performing their role
We are here to support your next production with our dedicated MHFAs and Medics/MHFAs
