About #time4change
Annemarie Lewis Thomas, Principal at The MTA has launched the #time4change initiative concerning the necessity for Mental Health Education and care in the industry in 2016 and now the #time4change charter is opening up new doors daily for conversation across the industry. Theatre companies, Agents, Colleges, Theatres and individuals are signing up and the word is spreading fast.
Why did the initiative start?
“We can CHOSE as an industry whether to ignore this mental health crises or we can DECIDE to be proactive.”
Annemarie wanted us to start a conversation about mental health in our industry and then keep it going. Often Performers do not want to speak up about mental health issues as they’ve spent so long growing that “thick skin” and making themselves indispensable. What we need to be able to understand is that mental health is just as important an issue to address as injuries and physical illnesses. If it’s affecting our performance, place within a company and well being we need to be able to talk about it and receive the help that we need. You won’t know where to find help unless you can ASK for it. That’s where this initiative begins.
“Mental health problems are more common among performers than the general population. Every year one in three of us will experience mental health problems. And yet it still continues to be something that we avoid talking about or admitting to ourselves. It is time for this to change for good.”
We know have over 100 organisations, companies and organisations signed up to the charter, it’s easy to do!
Join the debate:
The Time For Change Group is a professional, peer-support forum to help us better meet our own pledges by reflecting on practice together and sharing our expertise. The MTA has committed to supporting Charter signatories to develop action plans, where this is required. If you would like peer feedback please send your completed plans to The MTA. Please note that we are not responsible for checking the validity of your plan so please ensure that it is appropriate for what you need.
How to talk about the Charter
We should be proud of signing up to the Charter and committing to taking positive action around mental health, to support good mental wellbeing and challenge stigma.
We are looking for ambassadors to help advocate and support our work around mental health – please join the Time for Change Facebook group.
More about Annemarie here.
Annemarie's twitter: @ALthomasMT
Why did the initiative start?
“We can CHOSE as an industry whether to ignore this mental health crises or we can DECIDE to be proactive.”
Annemarie wanted us to start a conversation about mental health in our industry and then keep it going. Often Performers do not want to speak up about mental health issues as they’ve spent so long growing that “thick skin” and making themselves indispensable. What we need to be able to understand is that mental health is just as important an issue to address as injuries and physical illnesses. If it’s affecting our performance, place within a company and well being we need to be able to talk about it and receive the help that we need. You won’t know where to find help unless you can ASK for it. That’s where this initiative begins.
“Mental health problems are more common among performers than the general population. Every year one in three of us will experience mental health problems. And yet it still continues to be something that we avoid talking about or admitting to ourselves. It is time for this to change for good.”
We know have over 100 organisations, companies and organisations signed up to the charter, it’s easy to do!
Join the debate:
The Time For Change Group is a professional, peer-support forum to help us better meet our own pledges by reflecting on practice together and sharing our expertise. The MTA has committed to supporting Charter signatories to develop action plans, where this is required. If you would like peer feedback please send your completed plans to The MTA. Please note that we are not responsible for checking the validity of your plan so please ensure that it is appropriate for what you need.
How to talk about the Charter
We should be proud of signing up to the Charter and committing to taking positive action around mental health, to support good mental wellbeing and challenge stigma.
We are looking for ambassadors to help advocate and support our work around mental health – please join the Time for Change Facebook group.
More about Annemarie here.
Annemarie's twitter: @ALthomasMT