Mental Health Industry Leaders in the Entertainment Industry attending Equity Symposium
It's time for one voice to catalyse the tremendous work being pioneered in the mental health and wellbeing arena within the Entertainment Industry. Mental Health is more than #MeToo
BRISTOL, England: There have throughout history been high-profile troubled creatives. Van Gogh and Sylvia Plath come to mind. There is perhaps an evocation of poetic romanticism. Disturbingly, anecdotal evidence indicates professionals outside the industry are dismissive when it comes to Entertainment Industry workers' struggles with mental health because of this literary trope.
"The symposium is being held ahead of World Mental Health Day which is on October 10th," says Gerard Cooke, Bristol & West General Branch's Vice-Chair, and lead coordinator for the event.
"Since the East of Scotland Branch's 2014 Stress in the Entertainment Industry event, the launch of ArtsMinds, and Thames Variety Branch's 2019 "It's OK Not To Be OK" event, mental health and wellbeing issues for us working in the industry are getting a brighter-and-brighter spotlight," says Eltjo de Vries; Bristol & West General Branch's Chair and Branch Secretary.
The 2019 Equity #ArtsMinds Symposium is being held on October 2nd at Bristol Old Vic Theatre as an effort to bring the workers and industry leaders within the Entertainment Industry together.
"Good mental health and wellbeing are founded on empathy, kindness, patience and understanding holistically within the workplace," says one Equity Member who has struggled with mental wellbeing issues throughout her 40+ year career in the industry.
Equity, the trade union for UK performers and production creatives in the Entertainment Industry have funded this Bristol symposium. It is not the first time Equity Members have initiated events, written reports or demanded change. For the Bristol and West General Branch of the union who meet monthly at Bristol Old Vic, one of Bristol's premier live theatre venues, it will not be the last.
The physical event accommodates 80, for whom lunch will be provided. There will be hosted remote video access for 10 participants or satellite locations. Connections will be allocated by the submission of an expression of interest.
Tickets to attend in person are FREE and available on Eventbrite along with an expression of interest form link to apply for remote access. http://bit.ly/eams19-ticket
