Please note The 98% cannot offer crisis support. If you or someone you know needs urgent care or are experiencing thoughts of self-harm, suicide, or severe mental health episodes please call:

• UK: Call 999, Samaritans 116 123 (24/7), Text SHOUT 85258 (24/7), Call NHS 111 (press option 2)

• US: Call/Text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline)

• Canada: Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566

The mental health crisis in the creative industries is impossible to ignore. Multiple studies show that performers are more vulnerable to poor mental health than the general population. Equity’s 2022 global review found that actors are twice as likely to experience depression, with 60% reporting anxiety – ten times higher than average. The Film & TV Charity’s 2024 survey echoed these findings: only 12% of respondents felt the industry is mentally healthy, while 63% said their work negatively impacts their wellbeing.

For many, these pressures are compounded by experiences of misconduct, bullying, or abuse in the workplace. The hierarchy of power in the industry can leave individuals feeling isolated, unheard, and trapped in situations where speaking up feels impossible as people feel frightened that their career could be ruined - a threat perpetuated by the very people who benefit from that fear. Couple this with the prevailing attitude that “the show must go on”, and creatives feel even more discouraged to seek support for their mental health as they worry being judged as weak or unprofessional.

This culture of silence is one of the reasons The 98% podcast was created in 2018 – to break the silence, share the realities of the actor’s life, and remind performers that they are not alone and they do not need to feel any shame, or fear, about their career. Mental health has been a running theme throughout the podcast because it shapes so many of our own lives and careers. Many of us know the cycle: your mental health affects your career, and your career affects your mental health. Experiences of misconduct or industry exploitation can intensify this cycle, creating additional stress, anxiety, or trauma.

Your worth as a human being is not defined by your career. Seeking help is an act of strength. The challenges of this industry are real, and they can be compounded by poor mental health or existing mental illness. You do not need to face these challenges alone.

By talking honestly, supporting each other, and breaking down stigma, we can start to shift the culture of silence that has harmed so many for so long. The resources linked on this page are here for you to use, to share, and to remind yourself that your mental well-being comes first. These organisations exist specifically to help performers and creatives navigate both everyday pressures and the additional strain that comes from confronting or surviving misconduct, ensuring that support is available when it is needed most.