The Mayer Robinson Report
What’s going on in Hollywood?
How are creatives, cast, and crew handling the stress of creating TV & film projects in today’s tumultuous environment?
What are studios, production companies, and industry leaders doing?
We dove in to find out.
Below are findings of The Mayer Robinson Report: A 2024 Entertainment Industry Mental Health Study.
The report represents a comprehensive, six-month study involving extensive interviews with film and television industry professionals—including talent, producers, directors, and studio, network, and production company executives—and recently published, industry-specific data.
Highlights:
76% of people in TV & film have experienced mental health issues during and/or after filming.
Studios and production companies incur more than $300 million per year in expenses caused by mental health issues.
Producers are increasingly calling in mental health experts to help people cope with on-the-job stress and make productions run smoothly. (examples: Apple TV+’s Hijack, Amazon’s The Boys: Gen V, HBO’s I May Destroy You)
3 in 5 lead actors interviewed would like an on-set mental health advisor written into contracts.
Findings:
89% of television & film professionals say the industry is not a mentally healthy place to work.
Industry professionals say the majority of TV & film sets have “toxic” conditions.
84% of film & television professionals have experienced or seen bullying or harassment.
60% of professionals considered leaving the entertainment industry for mental health reasons.
Heads of Department (HoDs) report increasing pressure from longer hours and tighter budgets. “You’re pushed, pushed, pushed, and pushed to the limit, all the time,” says one location manager. It’s “unsustainable,” says an industry insider.
The majority of film & television productions face delays due to talent struggles like anxiety attacks, personal crisis, insecurities, screen time demands, bruised egos, difficulty transitioning between scenes, poor performances, and personality conflicts.
Cast & crew are blaming producers and studios in the media for poor mental health conditions. A Bridgerton actor publicly called out Netflix and Shondaland for a lack of support and aftercare following a mental health breakdown linked to filming. Others have revealed stories about “unstable” and “insecure” co-stars who lock themselves in trailers or lash out at others while producers stand by without proper intervention.
Top actors report escalating demands and spiraling mental health. “The expectations were eating me alive,” says Ryan Reynolds. “People are constantly coming at you with endless demands,” says Camila Mendes. “I’m on Lexapro and I’ll never get off of it,” says Amanda Seyfried.
Anxiety and depression are at an all-time high. Emma Stone says she had constant panic attacks for three years. Dakota Johnson reports having anxiety attacks “all the time.”
Cast and crew report missing work and turning down jobs because of mental health issues. “My anxiety was so bad that I had to keep quitting jobs,” Lili Reinhart says.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that mental health struggles impact attitude and performance. “I was kind of a control freak," says Kristen Stewart. “If I didn't know how something was going to turn out, I would make myself ill, or just be locked up or inhibited in a way that was really debilitating.”
The suicide rate is rising. In one survey, more than 4,500 people in the entertainment industry said they considered taking their own life. Halle Berry says that after her divorce, she considered suicide. “My sense of worth was so low,” she says.
Actors say emotional support is critical. “I wish I had someone at that time who could just pull me aside and [say], 'Hey, it's gonna be OK,” says Dwayne Johnson.
45% of managers don’t feel skilled to deal with workers’ mental health complaints.
Employee assistance programs have not done enough to address issues that arise on set and after filming.
9 in 10 talent representatives interviewed say they’re regularly called on to manage emotional issues, “walk an actor off the ledge,” and “talk them down.”
Young creatives in entertainment are demanding wellbeing solutions on set. “There’s a new generation of workers who are willing to stand up for better working conditions,” says one industry professional.
Industry professionals are calling for new ways to create “a healthier, happier and more sustainable working environment” on film & television sets.
The UK is leading the way, establishing the role of wellbeing facilitator (WBF) and supporting mental health initiatives from organizations like Film and TV Charity, Bectu Vision, and Timewise.
Several U.S. companies, such as Netflix and Apple, have begun to offer employees online resources, like access to the Headspace meditation app and referrals to a therapist. Others are creating special training on mental health issues.
Increasingly, top producers like Ava DuVernay are hiring on-set mental health specialists to provide emotional support to talent.
A-list actors are publicly applauding employers who hire a mental health advisor on set for cast and crew if they need to talk. “This was the first time I’d ever seen such a thing on a film,” says Hugh Jackman. “People used it and it was necessary.”
Discussion:
How can we boost mental health & wellbeing in the entertainment industry? What’s next?
On-set wellbeing facilitators (WBFs) and mental health advisors are becoming the new “must have” on TV & film sets.
Actors’ representatives are writing on-set mental health advisors into their contracts.
Studios & production companies are saving money by adding a line item for on-set emotional support.
Mental health experts are orchestrating safe exits before a production ends to prevent mental health crises, reduce liability, and protect their reputation.
Bottom line: Offering emotional support before, during, and after filming is becoming a non-negotiable.
For press inquiries, contact:
Kara Mayer Robinson, MA, LMHC
Mental Health Expert & Celebrity Confidante
kara@hollywoodwellness.org
201-383-5762
About Kara:
Kara Mayer Robinson, MA, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor, Ivy League-educated therapist, on-set mental health advisor, wellbeing facilitator, celebrity confidante, and executive producer and host of Really Famous with Kara Mayer Robinson.
As a mental health advisor and wellbeing facilitator (WBF), Kara keeps productions running smoothly, keeps an eye on everyone’s mental health, and prevents complications from unaddressed emotional issues.
Sources:
This study involved six months of extensive interviews with film and television industry professionals—including talent, producers, directors, and studio, network, and production company executives—and recently published, industry-specific data.
Learn more about the sources used in this study about mental health in the entertainment industry.
Study published March 2024.
© Kara Mayer Robinson, MA, LMHC
The Mayer Robinson Report: Discussion
Hollywood Wellness / hollywoodwellness.org
