6 minute read
PSA: The Bigger Picture
MENTAL WELLBEING: QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, ACTIONS
The PSA’s Andy Lenthall delves into the facts and figures behind mental wellbeing in the industry.
Research, it has been said, is like a lamp post; some people use it to lean on, while others use it for illumination. When it comes to mental health, we’ve all been charging ahead with well-meaning initiatives, most of which already exist and simply required adoption by our industry. We’ve also looked to the pioneers, the exemplars who have improved their approach and are more than willing to share ideas. Something that we hadn’t really done is research the people in our industry to see if there’s more we could or should be doing, or if we could just lean on a lamp post and watch things improve. Back in September, at PLASA London, we joined together with PLASA, ALD, ISD and ABTT to launch a co-funded research project into mental wellbeing amongst backstage workers. The response was fantastic; more than 1,300 completed questionnaires, with PSA members providing the most completed questionnaires. Th e data, presented to Dr Paul Hanna, Senior Lecturer and Research Director in Clinical Psychology at the University of Surrey, was developed into a report and a series of recommendations. Th e main aims for the project were to evaluate the prevalence of mental health issues, assess perceptions of working conditions and mental health, appraise mental health attitudes and stigma and establish perceptions of support for mental health problems, all within the context of the industry. The first point to address is that, when asking a group to complete a survey, you can expect a greater level of response from people with a personal interest in the subject matter. The working group behind the survey decided to divide results between those stating that they currently, or have previously, had a mental health problem and those who didn’t. That figure was 58.7% of responders – far higher than NHS figures at 25% average over the general population. Concerning, too, is the 71.1% of females reporting a current or previous problem. Vested interest, and the proportion of female responders (26.7%) may account for some of the disparity, but the figure is still found to be statistically significant. Lo oking at the PSA’s workforce survey, the shocking 90+% male dominance is perhaps a contributing factor, both to the response ratio by gender and the disproportionately high prevalence of problems amongst female workers. Of those issues reported, depression and anxiety made up the majority, 50.7% and 26.9% respectively. Over 90% of responders were in the 18 to 54 age bracket, with reported problems in the majority between 18 and 44 age groups. This seems to correlate with the worrying national statistic that mental health issues are the biggest killer of males in that age group. Setting aside the need to address the gender balance in our workforce, a predominantly male demographic in the age range at most risk does suggest that we are right in making efforts to improve our approach. Do
working conditions in our sector contribute to mental health issues? Interestingly, amongst those that reported current or previous problems, 53% said yes and 37% maybe; that contrasts with those not reporting issues, who said 64% yes and 32% maybe. It c ould be said that some with mental health problems are managing their condition whilst working in the industry. It might also be said that those without problems might be suggesting that the industry is not a place for people with them. Attitudes and stigma were matters that we were keen to investigate too. Th e survey questioned whether participants had experienced or observed negative attitudes towards mental health; 59.8% said they had, with 69.8% saying that they believed there is stigma associated with mental ill health within the industry. Again, the data could be further split into those reporting and those not reporting current or previous mental health problems. Unsurprisingly, those not reporting an issue saw associated stigma less than those that had. This trend in the perception of attitudes and stigma from individuals reporting current or previous mental health problems as opposed to the participants that didn’t report a mental health problem was consistent throughout the measures. For example, in the questions concerning how confident the participant would feel disclosing their (for those who reported a current or previous mental health problem) or a (for those who did not report a previous or current mental health problem) mental health problem to a line manager, only 50.4% of those with a mental health problem said they would, as opposed to 58.2% of those without a mental health problem. He lp-seeking behaviour was unusually high within the participants that are currently or had previously experienced a mental health problem, with 70.9% stating that they had sought support for their mental health problem. This help-seeking behaviour was significantly higher amongst females, with 78.3% of the females who responded to this question stating they have sought support as opposed to 67.3% of the males. The majority of participants (84.7%) that sought support did so through the National Health Service and Private Healthcare providers as opposed to the support offered within the industry. Re commendations arising from the report included further work to explore the link between mental health, working conditions and the possibility that the industry attracts individuals with existing mental health problems. Research into the gendered difference in the prevalence of mental health problems, perhaps including more in-depth qualitative research exploring experiences of being male and female in the industry is also suggested. Also, the perennial substance misuse and addictive behaviour question would seem to be something that is readdressed. Of course, it is widely accepted that substance misuse is a self-prescribed coping mechanism for people with mental health problems, so prevalence of one may lead to above average appearance of the other. In t he face of the findings, the group of backers gathered under their illumination, to find pathways to some solutions. Discussions are at a very early stage but already we can see the need for moves towards embedding industry-specific mental health awareness modules in all areas of industry education, expanding these to all points of entry to the industry, seeding the next generation with a more positive attitude to colleagues with issues. Th ere’s also the need to enable sharing of wellbeing, coping and recovery tips amongst the current generation of workers, perhaps utilising current social media platforms and communication channels to encourage better physical wellbeing. Fo r those who are already receiving treatment, there is the possibility of creating more industry-friendly group therapy sessions or online therapy for those away from home for long periods. The need to look at better ways to deliver effective, long-term treatments is obvious. Perhaps none of the measures are anything new, but with a joint effort, joined-up thinking and a good look at what is available to similar industries, we should be able to find a way to improve our approach and ensure further surveys will reveal improvements on this benchmark we just set ourselves. Hi nts, tips and advice are always welcome. Stay well. TPi www.psa.org.uk
Wash light – with an Edge
