MinD yourself
While working in the film industry has plenty of positives, we also understand the pressures it can put on your mental and physical well-being. We have all been in situations where we have struggled with maintaining a work life balance, whether it's a particularly demanding job or working away from home. With ever changing schedules and the erratic nature of our work it can feel easier to miss important life events or medical appointments than ask for the time off. In ISME we hope to foster a community that prioritises the well-being of our members both in and out of work. We encourage our members to build, manage and participate in teams with this in mind.
If you are struggling with any aspect of the film industry we encourage you to reach out. Each one of us has been through the ranks and remember the unique pressures of each grade. Your teammates, colleagues and ISME are valuable resources to you.
In recent years ISME has worked with the appropriate bodies to push for better work/life balance, more financial stability, improved health and safety, and work relations. While our efforts have made some improvements we will continue to engage on these matters.
While ISME works towards a kinder film industry, we have compiled a list of resources for you if you ever feel overwhelmed or in need of a little extra support.
Minding Creative Minds
Minding Creative Minds has a free counseling service available to film crew and all creative people in Ireland called Minding Creative Minds. When you get in contact, you are paired with a case worker who will put you with the right counselor/ psychotherapist.
The Minding Creative Minds programme includes access to a number of additional services to help users overcome various practical issues they may face. Once registered you are entitled to 30minutes free advice per topic.
Advice on practical, day-to-day issues that cause anxiety and stress.
Legal Assistance – Consultation with Irish solicitors including those specialised in family law matters, property conveyancing and criminal law.
Financial Assistance & Consumer Assistance – Consultation with qualified financial advisors who can offer advice on household budgeting, borrowing/debt management, retirement planning, saving & investments.
Career Guidance & Life Coaching – Access a panel of career coach specialists for career guidance.
Support for non-Irish nationals & their families – helping to make the transition into the Irish system as smooth as possible.
Mediation Services – Help with disputes in the workplace, or issues related to family business, defective goods & services, building & construction.
Their services can be contacted by texting ‘Hi’ to 0873690010 on SMS or WhatsApp (standard rate applies)
Other Resources
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Your Mental Health
A comprehensive directory of services and supports from the Health Services Executive with general information about mental health and wellbeing and tips on how to how to help a person experiencing a mental health problem.
Fettle
Tap into Ireland’s most experienced network of accredited and qualified online therapists who can help you with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, couples therapy and more. Or choose your online counsellor based on specialist therapeutic approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
HSE - Mental Health Services
Information on mental health services in Ireland.MoodGym
A training program for depression is based on cognitive behavioural therapy. It teaches people to use ways of thinking which will help prevent depression.
Psychological Society of Ireland Information on how to find a psychologist.
Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
MentalHealth.net
An online directory of services and supports offered by organisations, helplines, websites and support groups including information about training, benefits, housing, in-patient care, complaints, advocacy and recovery.
Information about medications.
Spun Out
Health information for young people, including mental health, sexual health, exam stress and general lifestyle information with an extensive online directory of available supports and services.
Reach Out
Provides user friendly mental health information for young people; encourages help-seeking, signposts and explains services and promotes positive mental health. The service is delivered by a dedicated team of online communicators and moderators
I-Act
Youtube channel. It is a leading evidence-based accredited programme for promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. i-act is a pro-active approach which explores how we may improve wellbeing to build resilience and it provides a first-response approach to supporting someone in needSocial Anxiety Ireland
Provides a group treatment programme for those with social anxietyOCD Ireland
Information, support and news for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Trichotillomania and Body Dysmorphic Disorder sufferers -
Personal training
Recognised as a top personal trainer in Dublin, Keith Grainer will help you reach your physical goals step by step and teach you how to maintain them.
Keith worked in the film industry so he understands the long hours and pressures on crew.
Give him a shout and he will give a
10% discount for ISME members.
Book a free consultation here.
Yoga with Adriene
has free very accessible yoga classes available on You Tube for free -
Pieta House
Offers specialised treatment to clients who self-harm, suffer from suicidal ideation or have made multiple suicide attempts.
Clients receive an intensive programme of one-to-one counselling lasting about four to six weeks. Pieta House is a nonprofit organisation and the service is free of charge.
Email: mary@pieta.ieSuicide or Survive
Provide a range of educational and therapeutic programmes aiming to increase understanding of suicide and suicide prevention.Samaritans
A charity in Ireland offering emotional support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
If you need someone to talk to, call them they listen, they won’t judge or tell you what to do.
Call: 116123HUGG
Healing Untold Grief Groups for suicide bereavement support -
Mindfulness Ireland
A network of people in Ireland who aspire to practice mindful living and mindfulness meditation.
Headspace is a mindfulness and meditation app (14 day free trial)
Insight Timer is a free meditation and mindfulness app
Self Compassion practices
Finding Peace in a Frantic World
A website with details of books and other resources relating to mindfulness. -
Drugs.ie
Provides Ireland’s only online interactive information and support chat service - the drugs.ie LiveHelp service. Drugs.ie also houses a national database of treatment & rehabilitation, information & support, counselling, education & training services.The HSE Drugs & Alcohol Helpline
Provides support, information, guidance and referral to anyone with a question or concern related
to drug and alcohol use and/or HIV and sexual health. The service is confidential, non-judgemental and offers space to talk about your situation, to explore some options and to consider your needs.
During calls/emails, staff refer to a database of over 400 services nationwide.
Helpline: 1800 459 459
Email support: helpline@hse.ie
(Monday to Friday, 9.30am and 5.30pm)Quit
A support service and online information resource for people who want to stop smoking. It is run by the Health Services Executive.
Freephone 1800 201 203
Freetext QUIT TO 50100 or chat online -
lgbt.ie
has a great list of mental health supports for the LGBTQ+ communityThe National LGBT Helpline
provides a confidential, listening, support and information service to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. The service is also used by people who are questioning if they might be LGBT, as well as the family and friends of LGBT people and professionals looking for information. The service is volunteer-run and operates Monday to Friday from 7 to 9pm.
Call: 1890 929 539Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI)
seeks to improve conditions and advance the rights and equality of trans people and their families. Their vision is an Ireland where trans people are understood, accepted and respected, and can participate fully in all aspects of Irish society.
Call: 01 873 35 75Gay Switchboard Ireland
provides a confidential telephone support service. Listening, support, and information are provided to all callers in a non- directive or judgmental way. The service is available to the LGBT community, their parents, families and friends, and to anyone who has concerns relating to sexuality, including HIV/AIDS related enquiries.
Call: 01 872 1055Outhouse
is a community and resource centre for LGBT people, their families and friends. It is based in central Dublin. Its primary goal is to offer a safe space for people to inform, meet, organise and make things happen
Call: 01 873 4999
Lesbian Line
is a listening service run by lesbian and bisexual women. The volunteers are not qualified counsellors but can listen and can give you the information you might need on the many support services available.
Call: 01 8729911
Gender Identity Family Support Line is a volunteer-led listening and support service for families of trans and gender non-conforming people in Ireland. The Gender Identity Family Support Line is an initiative of Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) and LGBT Ireland. The line is open from 6-9pm on the second and fourth Sunday of the month.
Call: 01 907 3707Gay Health Network
publishes and distributes HIV and safer sex information for men who have sex with men (MSM), as well as conducting and publishing research.
Man2Man
is a comprehensive sexual health information website for men who have sex with men. -
Can be found second hand or in Irish independent bookshops
The Four Agreements
by Don Miguel Ruiz
The Body Keeps The Score
by Bessel van der Kolk
When The Body Says No
by Dr. Gabor Matè
How To Do The Work
by Dr. Nicole LaPera
Fuck it
by John Parkin
Podcasts
The Blind Boy Podcast
Hosted by Blindboy, of the Rubberbandits. An eclectic podcast containing short fiction, interviews and comedy. Often discusses issues with mental health.
Here is a playlist with some of the related episodes.
Where is My Mind with Niall Breslin
A weekly podcast that explores how we can better look after our heads and hearts in the chaos of the modern worldI WEIGH
Challenges societal norms through conversations with thought-leaders, performers, activists, influencers, and friends about their own experiences and stories with their mental health. With hilarious and vulnerable conversations, I WEIGH amplifies and empowers diverse voices in an accessible way to celebrate progress, not perfectionGlow West Podcast
Conversations about sexual wellness with Dr Caroline West.
ConverSayTrans
An intergenerational podcast series exploring trans culture. The podcast developed by The Stairlings Collective with funding from Create in collaboration with TENI with continued participation of the trans community, explores invisible histories and culture through intergenerational dialogue and archival materials.