The team behind the ground-breaking ‘Blackout’ installation are pleased to release the results of the “UK Backstage Entertainment Industry’s Evaluation on Mental Health Awareness”.
This pioneering study was launched alongside the acclaimed 6-minute immersive experience at PLASA Olympia in September. The Academic analysis was conducted by Dr Paul Hanna, Research Director in Clinical Psychology at the University of Surrey, who has been working with the core creative team since they launced the installation in May at The Guildford School of Acting.
Mig Burgess, who headed up the Blackout project said: “I am thrilled that as many as 1300 of our colleagues have contributed to this important survey. We are so lucky to have Paul working with us on this evalution and its been a life long goal to gain more insight into mental health issues within the backstage industry I love so much. The data collected is a fascinating read, and I look forward to working with Paul and the amazing associations and industry bodies that helped to fund the study, to see if we can implement actions that can help to promote awareness and reduce stigma around mental health.”
The evaluation has been funded by leading industry associations PLASA, ALD, ASD ABTT and PSA.
Dr Paul Hanna commented: “This mental health evaluation of the UK Technical Backstage Entertainment Industry represents a very important first step in gaining a better understanding of mental health within the industry. The industry itself has a specific set of demands on its employees, due to the nature of the work undertaken, and the nature of the entertainment industry more generally, so it was important to establish an overview of mental health prevalence, attitudes and support within the industry.
The industry is taking mental health very seriously, something represented by the commissioning of this report amongst many other initiatives, and whilst the report highlights many areas of improvement, the positive approach to mental health from leading industry bodies is particularly promising. I look forward to working with the industry over the coming years to help support a more positive approach to mental health for all involved in the industry”
The Blackout project, which was seeded by major players in the backstage entertainment industry, ramps up in the New Year with further initiatives with this project and an even more wide-ranging study.
