Resources to help support your mental health and wellbeing.
Our members are at the heart of everything we do and we continue to be inspired by the passion, innovation and resilience of our industry. We are all in this together and we are here to support you.
What we’re doing to support you
In November 2020, we launched The Wellbeing Series – a new programme designed to empower and support our members to navigate the mental health challenges of the acting profession and the uncertain times that we’re living through. If you’re a Performer member, you can take advantage of these free online events which are tailored to empower you and support your wellbeing. Details of these events will be emailed to you, so ensure you’re opted in to receive the latest information.
Powerful Pause Guided Meditations
Guided meditations to help you to feel rested, restored and reignited. These guided meditations were featured in (or were inspired by) our Powerful Pause meditation sessions, where we come together to meditate twice a month. If you’re a Performer, Graduate or Young Performer (18+) member, you can take advantage of these free sessions (please ensure you’re opted in to receive our emails for upcoming dates and booking information).
Click here to access the Powerful Pause Meditation Library. You can also download and listen to all of these meditations on PodBean, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Resources to support your wellbeing as a performer
The Essentials
- Discussing Your Mental Health and Wellbeing With Your Agent
- Tips for Good Mental Health
- Practical Self-Care Tips for Your Mental Health
- A List of Charities that Support Performers
- Dealing With Jealousy
- How to Deal With Career Envy
- How to Navigate Being the Only Creative in Your Family
- How to Support Your Performer Partner and How They Can Support You
- The Spotlight Podcast: Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Introducing the Performance Resilience Programme
- Financial Mindfulness – Budgeting Tips for Performers
Staying Motivated
- Staying Empowered Throughout Your Acting Career
- The Waiting Game: The Post-Audition Limbo
- An Actor’s Guide to Reconnecting With Your Purpose
- Keeping Your Identity as an Out-Of-Work Performer
- Returning to Acting After a Setback
- An Actor’s Guide to Motivating Yourself Through Uncertainty
- Self-Motivating Through Difficult Times
- How to Practice Resilience
- Actor in Isolation: A Survival Guide
- How to Feel Fulfilled
Auditions and Performing
- Post-Audition Self-Care
- Pre-Audition Meditation
- Post-Audition Meditation
- Pre Self-Taping Meditation
- 6 Ways to Combat Nerves at Your Next Audition
- How Yoga Can Calm Your Nerves Before an Audition
- How to Deal With Nerves
- Empowering Yourself in an Audition
- How to Keep Your Mental Health Safe Whilst Working on Intense Subject Matters
- Parting With a Part: How to De-Role
- Surviving Long and Difficult Jobs
- Keeping Your Voice Fit and Healthy
- What You Need to Know About Nudity and Intimacy on Set
- Breath Practice for Performers
- Caring for Your Voice in Winter
Dealing with Feedback and Rejection
- How to Handle Rejection
- Reframing Feedback
- Coping with Rejection: A Guide for Actors
- Acid to Asset: Turning Rejection into Opportunity
Work-Life Balance
- Work-Life Balance: The Number One Issue For Freelancers
- The Actor’s Sandpit: Knowing What’s In Our Control
- Finding Your Other Calling: Achieving Balance in Acting
- What Taking Up A Hobby Taught Me About Mental Health In The Industry
- Healthy Food Prep for the Busy Actor
- Five Ways to Manage Homesickness on Tour
- Looking After Yourself When Writing
Managing Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome
- Dealing with Self-Pity
- Dealing With Self-Doubt
- Overcoming Self-Judgement as an Actor
- Reclaiming Self-Confidence as an Actor
- Imposter Syndrome and How to Deal with It
Stress, Anxiety and Burnout
- How to Handle Stress on a Film Set
- A Guide to Finding Help for Anxiety and Depression
- Dealing with Stress as a Performer
- Stress Management: Positivity Out of Adversity
- Overcoming Burnout
- 10 Tips For Managing Stress and Anxiety
Acting and Being a Parent, Guardian or Carer
- Navigating Self-Taping When You Have Kids
- Parent Performer Online Coffee Mornings
- Parents and Carers in Performing Arts
- Actors’ Children’s Trust: Financial, emotional and practical support to help actors protect their children from the unpredictability of the industry
- Working as a Parent: Reflections on Acting and Parenthood
Supporting a Young Performer
- How to be a Confident and Resilient Young Performer
- Pre-Audition Meditation for Young Performers
- Calming Nerves Meditation for Young Performers
- Confidence Meditation for Young Performers
- A Parent’s Guide to Mental and Physical Health for Young Performers
- Supporting a Young Person (Mind)
- Looking After a Child or Young Person’s Mental Health (NHS)
- Mental Health and Self-Care for Young People (NHS)
- Support for Young People 13+ on all Areas of Life (The Mix)
- Parent’s Guide to Support – Social Media and the Internet (Young Minds)
Useful Contacts and Support
- Urgent Mental Health Support (NHS)
- Mental Health Directory – a guide to free and paid services for your mental health (PDF)
- Equity – Sources of Support
- Free clinical consultations for UK-based performers via BAPAM
- Music Minds Matter: Mental health support line and service for the UK Music Community
- Theatre Helpline: Free independent and confidential phone and email service providing support to people working in the theatre industry
- Minding Creative Minds: Free 24/7 wellbeing and support for the Irish Creative Sector
Our Favourite Resources From Mental Health Charities and Other Companies
- Clear, Practical Advice for Anyone Experiencing Issues with Mental Health and Money (Mental Health & Money Advice)
- Fact Sheets on Mental Health Support, Self-Care, Performance Anxiety, Choosing a Therapist and Sources of Financial and Practical Support (BAPAM)
- Money and Mental Health (Mind)
- Practical Sleep Tips For Adults (The Sleep Charity – PDF)
- Alternate Nostril Breathing to Relieve Tension and Anxiety (Yoga With Adriene)
- The Power of No: How to Build Strong, Healthy Boundaries (Guardian, UK)
- Mindfulness (NHS Article on the Benefits of Mindfulness and Meditation)
- Supporting Someone With Depression – Advice for Family and Friends (Mind)
- A Guide to Supporting the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Musicians (Function Central)
- British Nutritional Foundation: Impartial Advice on Food and Nutrition
- Understanding and Managing Anxiety: A Guide for University Students
It can feel like you’re alone when things are tough but there’s support available no matter what you’re going through. If you need urgent help, there are lots of ways to get help now.
Image by Gus Moretta via Unsplash.
