#time4change

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theMTAonline
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#time4change

Post by theMTAonline »

Huge kudos to NAPM for getting involved in the #time4change mental health charter. If you haven't been following its progress as of today 103 orgs have signed up to it. It's refreshing and a credit to the owner of this site that NAPM have chosen to get involved.

Mental illness is something that everybody wishes would just go away. However research shows that our industry is more susceptible than most. Add to that the increase in numbers struggling at colleges in general and it's a potential powder keg waiting to blow.

If you think that your DS or DD is displaying symptoms as described on the charter please go speak to your GP sooner rather later - as you could change their lives for the better. Thanks again NAPM
performmum
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Re: #time4change

Post by performmum »

I really like the approach that this college has taken to this important issue.
It cannot be understated the importance of ensuring that a young persons mental health is loooked after in this high pressured environment. Training itself is tough, constantly comparing yourself to others and being critiqued by teachers and peers alike. Then the industry itself is brutal - it's not talent that gets the work ( it does help) but it's how you look, how tall you are ,how short, colour of your hair, colour of your top etc etc etc.
Being judged this way day in and day out, coupled with the pressures of social media, 24/7 news etc etc is enough to effect anyone.
Please look after your young performers, and if they are in any of the ' big ' colleges, please put pressure on them to join this scheme and make a difference.
lbm1e14
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Re: #time4change

Post by lbm1e14 »

I totally agree performmum. The statistics speak for themselves. More of the "big" colleges need to sign up to this. All parents should ask questions about this aspect of their pastoral care provision. Having a policy is not enough. It needs a bit of money and enough hours to cater sensibly for the size of the college. Some of the big colleges are admitting 100 students a year. That's a lot of pastoral care!
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admin
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Re: #time4change

Post by admin »

I totally endorse those last 2 comments. When choosing the best place for your youngsters the fact that a college has signed up to or at the very least shown an awareness of the need to keep a look out for the mental wellbeing of their students should play a big factor. I would also like to say that the roots of some these issues can go a very long way back. Think about this industry, from a very young age they are told "you're too tall, too small, too fat, too thin" your hair is the wrong colour your accent is wrong etc...Then we subject youngsters to open calls where the cuts are made public. Its no good pretending that a child hasn't worked out they didn't get the magical recall paper when leaving the room etc.. Worse still some castings involve asking them to leave a room whilst others stay behind. The current resurgence of the children needed for musicals being an obvious example of this. I'm not blaming the casting directors although I wish there was another way of doing these castings for kids...

People must talk about these issues, acknowledge that mental well being is too precious to be sacrificed for what could be a fleeting moment of fame, and if in doubt talk to a professional.
Hope Never Dies....
theMTAonline
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Re: #time4change

Post by theMTAonline »

Just to continue this conversation (as I believe that it's vital)....there is an eternal debate going around as to whether our industry creates the issues, or whether our industry attracts the people that suffer from these issues. In truth I suspect that we will never really know. Common sense would tell us that the constant uncertainty and judgement must have an impact on the mental well being of a person (young or old), but then research also shows us that many people have a genetic predisposition to inherit certain mental illnesses (that in itself is an issue...I mean what parent wants to think that they've 'passed on' something that they themselves have had to battle with day in, day out?). In other words this is a minefield! However the minefield exists. We can't and mustn't bury our heads in the sand and hope that the problem will go away.

Being a performer, being on stage is magical. ALL of life's problems disappear for an hour or two (or 7 I guess if you're in the new Harry Potter adaptation) but the reality is. . . however successful you are, however much you're in work, you will still be 'off stage' more than 'on'...and therefore the problems will be with you longer than you would like them to be. So it's essential that we give our young people the opportunity to relieve themselves of these anxieties and difficulties at as young an age as possible. For them to see that they can live their lives without the need to escape (of course we ALL want to escape the paying bills, breaking up of relationships etc...but these issues are very different). They will probably still choose to be 'on stage'...but being on stage whilst being mentally fit will/should be a much nicer, richer experience for them all.

I won't post the links to my copious blogs on this topic as I'm not here to advertise my college, and they're easy enough to google and find should you wish...however lbm1314 is absolutely right IMHO. Many colleges doubled even trebled their admissions over the past few years, but they haven't increased their pastoral care budget. The same amount of staff are (in their own words) getting swamped with students needing help, and now counselling services at what are essentially private colleges, have waiting lists of up to 3 months! #time4change IS important. FYI Rose Bruford, PPA and Mountview (plus us of course...but we go even further)...are the ONLY colleges that have signed up to the charter. I also know they they are working hard to deliver the remits of the charter. Make of that what you will!

lbm1314 is right again (clearly on a roll)...but be aware of just being told that a college 'has a mental health policy'. The policy is often in place to meet some accreditation criteria, but is often not actually getting 'onto the floor' (so to speak). You need to know if the students are being educated on mental health issues, if the staff are being trained in mental health issues...as only then will the 'policy' be proactive. A lot of these policies are for after the horse has bolted. What to do when the signs are obvious - well you want your children treated before then ideally, and it IS possible, if everyone knows what the very early indicators are.
carriecrafts
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Re: #time4change

Post by carriecrafts »

I have heard stories about students suffering in DD's cohort at hers and other PA colleges. (I have also heard some from my other daughters who are not in performing arts). Many arrive in Further/Higher Education with existing mental health issues and have clearly not received appropriate support at any stage of their education to date. Clearly much more needs to be done throughout childhood but as PA colleges are likely to be the last formal education setting for performers they may be the last chance to offer support within the structure of an organisation, rather than seeking support from specialist services as an adult. How would one go about encouraging (putting pressure on) a college to sign up?
theMTAonline
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Re: #time4change

Post by theMTAonline »

Hi Carriecrafts - I think that it's about parents using social media to encourage colleges, and indeed to make them see that you care about this. At the moment the culture is such, that students and parents are looking at skill sets - but to be honest their stats can easily show you that. If their graduates are all working, then they're doing something right! I know that a couple of colleges contacted me because their graduates kept tagging them into the #time4change conversation, so they felt coerced into contacting me (that said there's been quite a few that 'contact me' quite publicly on twitter etc, but don't then follow through in private!). Basically, and to put it bluntly, they will be wanting your business/money, so if they start to see that this isimportant to you, they would be more likely to follow through and meet with us. So I'd say use the hashtag, and I'll try to keep up and 'share/RT' etc. Thanks for taking it seriously. You are right though - we, as colleges, are in a unique position to help people before they truly hit the 'real world'. I believe that we should exploit that and get young people out in the business happy, healthy....and of course...working! :D
Bean1
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Re: #time4change

Post by Bean1 »

This is a topic I feel incredibly strongly about. As someone who spent 30 years in the business, many of those at the top of my game, most of that time battling mental health issues I am passionate about trying to arm students from their pre-college days onwards in resilience and recognising their symptoms. We are 40% more prone to mental health issues that the general public according to research done a few years back. Constant scrutiny and rejection and expectation take their toll in an industry where admitting you are struggling often means not being offered work. Self esteem can be battered, self confidence struggles and the tendancy to a very fixed self of identity, makes any criticism seem entirely personal, and any suggestion of failure leaves your youngster wondering what they are if not a dancer, singer, actress etc.
I have stepped away and am now training in mental health approaches with a view to working on the psychological side of the training as well as the performance side, and really do beg that parents listen to the advice given by others above. If your DDs and DS's seem off, don't let them brush you away. It is very hard to open up about some of these issues because performers often can't face them themselves. Some colleges as mentioned above are taking this seriously. Some sadly, as I know from students there, have no real pastoral care and the advice is, 'pop in and see us if there is anything worrying you.' Double check the colleges over what they provide and rely on your instincts with your loved ones.
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