Almost two out of three people suffer from psychological symptoms in the film and TV industry

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health media release 10 December 2024 

“Well-being at work in film and TV productions has not previously been extensively surveyed in Finland. It is known that many people leave an industry in which working may be perceived as demanding. For this reason, it was important to map the current situation and develop well-being at work accordingly,” state Senior Researcher Päivi Vanttola and Senior Specialist Heli Ansio from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. 

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health conducted the study as part of the audiovisual industry’s Avaus Sustainability Project, which is carried out by Audiovisual Producers Finland – APFI together with the Union of Film and Media Employees Finland SET and the Union of Journalists in Finland.
 
“The challenges related to the well-being at work of employees in the industry have been discussed for a long time, but more detailed information has not been previously available. With the research results, we can finally develop the industry on the basis of researched information,” says Marika Väisänen, Collective Agreement Specialist from the Union of Journalists in Finland.
 
“Experienced employees from all occupational groups are leaving the industry due to its stressful nature. Extensive experience is needed in order for the industry to evolve and to avoid repeating the same mistakes every time a new production starts. It is beneficial for the industry as a whole if, through research, professionals’ careers can be extended and experienced employees can be retained in the industry,” says Matleena Kuusela, Chairperson of the Union of Film and Media Employees Finland SET. 

Strong work engagement despite accumulating stress factors

Independent production companies are often responsible for film and TV productions. Special characteristics of the industry include short employment relationships, long working days and working at irregular hours. Production resources are often scarce, and obtaining sufficient funding is challenging. 

The survey investigated the current state of well-being at work of those working in the film and TV industry and the factors that influence it. Work-related resources in the film and TV industry were highlighted in the survey. Work engagement in the industry is generally strong and particularly strong among those involved in creative work. Supervisors were perceived as fair for the most part.
 
The survey also highlights the demands of working in the industry. According to the survey, sole entrepreneurs, self-employed people and fixed-term employees in particular work long hours outside daytime hours. These stressful working time characteristics often occurred in the same departments in which short-term employment or assignment-based relationships, challenges in reconciling work and personal life, physically strenuous work and insufficient recovery from work were also emphasised.  

“It is alarming that nearly two out of three survey respondents experienced psychological symptoms. This figure is three times higher compared to the rest of the Finnish working-age population. The symptoms are particularly common among sole entrepreneurs and self-employed people,” Vanttola summarises. 
 
Every other entrepreneur, self-employed person and fixed-term employee is often willing to be flexible with their working time. The unpredictable working hours lead many into a vicious cycle: worktime shortening leave in period based-work is used for working, and periods of unemployment between productions are used for recovery from work. There are few paid holidays. 

Development suggestions from workshops and industry organizations

The project also involved the organization of two workshops for film and TV professionals. In the workshops, the participants brainstormed ideas for development areas to improve well-being at work. Among other things, they brought up wishes for the development of management and supervisory work practices. The workshop participants emphasised that it is important to treat everyone working in production fairly and with respect. The participants believe that investing in well-being at work could be a competitive advantage for production companies. 

The development areas that came up in the workshops were refined into development proposals together with industry organization representatives. These proposals are presented in the final report to be used freely in the industry. The proposals are aimed at employers and those working in the industry, among others. They are useful for TV channels and streaming services that order productions as well as for the management of film and TV production companies in terms of the vitality of the industry. 

Various actions are recommended in the final report

Based on the research and development data, the measures that the researchers recommend in the final report include, for example, addressing psychological symptoms and enabling recovery from work also during productions. Particular attention should be paid to enabling recovery in departments and tasks where working times are stressful and the work is physically demanding. It is also important to invest in measures that support the well-being at work of sole entrepreneurs, self-employed people and fixed-term employees.

Organizations continue to develop the industry

“The survey provides us with more tools to start developing operating methods and supporting the management of companies in these measures. The Avaus Sustainability Project launched by APFI invites author associations, funders and clients to discuss measures for increasing well-being at work in the industry in early spring next year. In addition, the Avaus sustainability website, which will be launched in winter 2025, provides plenty of resources to support sustainability work in the entire industry,” says Laura Kuulasmaa, Executive Director of Audiovisual Producers Finland – APFI. 

The project is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, and the funding has been granted by the Ministry of Education and Culture. 

Read the final report of the project

The final report of the project in Finnish (Julkari.fi)

Learn more about the AVAT project

• Coping and health of professionals in independent production companies’ film and TV productions (AVAT) | Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

Further information

• Päivi Vanttola, Specialist Researcher, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, tel. +358 (0)50 570 8639, paivi.vanttola@ttl.fi
• Heli Ansio, Senior Specialist, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, tel. +358 (0)50 468 7335, heli.ansio@ttl.fi
• Laura Kuulasmaa, Executive Director, Audiovisual Producers Finland – APFI, tel. +358 (0)50 345 0056, laura.kuulasmaa@apfi.fi
• Marika Väisänen, Collective Agreement Specialist, Union of Journalists in Finland, tel. +358 (0)40 575 4242, marika.vaisanen@journalistiliitto.fi
• Matleena Kuusela, Chairperson, Union of Film and Media Employees Finland SET, tel. +358 (0)40 539 2663, hallitus@setry.fi