WHY WELFARE IS IMPORTANT

With over 25 years in production and a deep psychotherapeutic background, I specialize in mental health consultancy tailored to the screen industries. My services support production companies in embedding robust wellbeing, safeguarding, and mental health practices.

Welfare is vital in the film and television industry because it ensures the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of everyone involved in a production on and off-screen. In a fast-paced, high-pressure environment where long hours, intense schedules, and physical demands are common, maintaining proper welfare standards helps prevent burnout, injuries, and exploitation.

Good practice promotes a healthier, safer, more inclusive working culture, improving creativity, productivity, and sustainable careers. As the industry continues to evolve, prioritising welfare isn't just ethical, it's essential.

Productions are under constant pressure to deliver on time and on budget, while also meeting Ofcom and broadcaster guidelines on participant and team welfare. This can create a tension for production teams who are tasked with making quick editorial decisions that may also carry significant ethical implications.

Participant and team/crew risk factors are not static, they can shift as filming progresses. Changes in schedule, storylines, personal circumstances, or vulnerability levels may all increase the need for careful review. That’s why welfare processes should be revisited regularly, especially at key editorial milestones or when the format evolves, and with the advice of a professional.

At RE:HAPPY, I help productions anticipate and manage these challenges through specialist training, consultation, and on-the-ground support. The result is a safer, more ethical, and more sustainable production environment for everyone involved.