Resources to help you look after your wellbeing
Health and Wellbeing
Resources to help you look after your mental and physical wellbeing, especially with issues affecting creative workers and women in the performing and creative industries.
Speak to us if your work is affecting your health
If at any stage of getting work or being in work, your employer (or prospective employer) is failing to provide a workspace that is safe, Equity can help. Call us on 020 7379 6000. Or you can contact the official for your sector directly - find their details on contact page.
Accessible word version coming soon.
Body image
Aesthetic labour and body shaming
Increasingly, performers are sharing concerns about the pressures they face in relation to their appearance and the policing of their bodies.
Be Real
The Be Real Campaign is determined to change attitudes to body image and help all of us put health above appearance and be confident in our bodies.
Body image report from the Mental Health Foundation
Research and recommendations on body image.
Body neutrality movement
Article about the body neutrality movement and accepting your body.
Body positivity influencers
Instagram accounts promoting body positivity.
Young Minds on body image
Advice for young people on body image.
Eating disorders
Eating disorders and unhealthy attitudes to food and eating can have a huge impact on the lives of workers in our industry, especially women. Help and advice for all types of eating disorders can be found on the NHS website.
SEED also offer an eating disorder support service.
Health and safety
Your employer has a duty of care for your health and safety — both physical and mental. Read about what you should expect from your place of work in the Equity Guide to Health and Safety.
Illness or injury
If you're involved in an accident, it's important to seek proper compensation for any injuries you sustained until you are able to return to work. Read our advice on what to do if you have an accident at work.
BAPAM
The British Association of Performing Arts Medicine provides specialist health support for people in the entertainment industry.
Insurance
Make sure you're aware of Equity Members' Accident and Backstage Insurance Cover. Nearly all full members who are up to date with their Equity subscriptions are automatically covered by this policy. Read our insurance guide
Mental health
ArtsMinds - specialist support for creatives
ArtsMinds is an information hub where performers and creative practitioners can find specialist support. It covers everything from your career and finances to your health and relationships. ArtsMinds is a joint initiative between Equity, BAPAM, The Stage and Spotlight.
British Association for Performing Arts Medicine
As an Equity member, you can have six free counselling services through BAPAM. If you’re experiencing mental health issues, speaking to someone can really help.
Online resources for creative workers
BAPAM have online resources to help with everything from performance anxiety to psychological self-care to healthy touring.
Samwell
A not-for-profit online platform and peer support community which helps performers maintain a healthy mind throughout their careers. They provide practical guidance, access to inspirational content and connection with experts or other performers with shared experiences.
Further resources
Miscarriage
Advice, employment rights and how to get help with workplace issues if you've experienced a miscarriage.
British Fibroid Trust
British Fibroid Trust is a UK based voluntary not-for-profit patient support Group which is run by volunteers. They provide balanced information, independent of health care provider's interests.
Endometriosis
Support for those affected by endometriosis.
Equity Charitable Trust
A charity offering support to those in financial crisis.
Fitness discounts
Your Equity membership provides you with discounts to a range of local fitness and wellbeing classes.
Lesbian and bisexual women's health
NHS guidance for lesbian and bisexual women.
Miscarriage
Baby Loss Awareness
Support for anyone touched by pregnancy and baby loss.
Miscarriage Association
Information and resources for those affected by miscarriage, molar pregnancy or ectopic pregnancy.
Sands
Sands is the leading stillbirth and neonatal death charity in the UK. Sands exists to ensure that anyone affected by the death of a baby receives the best possible care and support for as long as they need it.
Tommy’s
Tommy’s researches into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth, and provides pregnancy health information to parents.
The Mix
Resources for young people across a variety of issues, particularly mental health.
Periods at work
Charity Each Other on periods at work and periods and the Equality Act.
Reproductive health
Unison resources on reproductive health in the workplace.
Shape arts
Mental health tips for arts workers.
Trans and non-binary support
Organisations and online information for trans and non-binary people.
Women's Radio Station
Radio station supporting women’s well-being with discussions, charities and events.
Equity guides and documents
The resources below outline campaigns and resources that have been created by Equity to further support the health and wellbeing of its members.
- Making an appearance
Report from the Women’s Committee and Royal Holloway University’s research into aesthetic labour.