T.S. Eliot wasn’t wrong when he called April the “cruelest month.” In the United States, suicide rates begin to spike during the spring, from April through June. People in the live event industry are particularly vulnerable to mental health issues as they work long hours, often during traditional family time such as weekends and holidays, and frequent travel can increase feelings of isolation.
Lori Rubinstein, executive director of the Behind the Scenes Foundation, explains why it is important to take stock of our mental health as we edge toward April. "Entertainment industry workers have had to face constant uncertainty throughout the pandemic and it has taken a real toll on everyone’s mental health. We’ve seen significant increases in anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and suicides. The Behind the Scenes Mental Health Initiative offers a variety of tools and resources to help you, or to assist you in helping others who may be struggling. Mental Health First Aid training and #BeThe1To Help Save a Life information can teach you how to recognize the signs that someone may be struggling, how to talk with them, and refer them to appropriate help. You can learn about these tools and much more at btshelp.org/mentalhealth."
The free webcast above, from Live Design and Behind The Scenes, has important information on managing your own mental health and identifying the signs that others are facing a difficult time. Hosted by Rubinstein and Taryn Longo, a somatic trauma therapist and the founder of The Mastery Studio, the presentation and question-and-answer session moderated by Ellen Lampert-Greaux offer insights from the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative. The initiative, from Behind the Scenes, has resources for people in our industry who are struggling emotionally, feeling anxious, or potentially suicidal. Resources include an anonymous self-assessment tool, a chat app, Be Scene Be Heard, to talk to peers who understand the same pressures, and an Entertainment Industry Therapist Finder.
These resources are not just to combat the impact of the pandemic on the lives of event industry professionals, there is help for a wide range of issues, from workplace bullying to addiction, and if you have concerns about a colleague or friend and don’t know how to reach out, there are worksheets with sample language.
If you would like more information about helping others you’ll find it here, #Bethe1 To Help Save A Life or sign up for Mental Health First Aid Virtual Training.
Here are some links to similar resources in Canada and the United Kingdom, and for training to be a mental health first aider in Canada and the United Kingdom.