Frequently Asked Questions

We offer training for productions, staff, crew members, and aspiring Mental Health Coordinators to promote mental health and wellbeing on a production; do creative project consultations; provide on site and remote support; and develop policies for companies/productions that promote the shared values of the space while integrating mechanisms that uplift mental health and wellbeing.

An MHC is an interdisciplinary creative professional supporting responsible and compelling portrayal of mental health and challenging or traumatic themes for creators and consumers.

Any and all! We work across the performing arts industries, including film, theatre, dance, concerts, and performance art, as well as educational settings from K-12 to Higher Ed.

Much like the world of intimacy coordination and choreography, we don’t yet work in an industry where this position has become the norm. Whether a member of your team has studied the basics with us, or if you’re able to hire a fully certified MHC to consult in advance or join the production in full, we believe that better is better. Check our blog for a list of topics that merit mental health coordination! As far as content is concerned, check out our blog post on topics that benefit from having an MHC here: https://www.mentalhealthcoordinators.org/post/topics-that-benefit-from-mental-health-coordination

We can help you stand out in the industry by telling authentic stories. This is pretty uncommon at the moment, and the representation we do see often furthers the stigma around mental health challenges. MHCs can assist in telling authentic stories in an ethical way. The disparity between authentic representation and what we usually see portrayed in media, screen and stage, creates mental health risks for creators and consumers, weakening the impact and meaning those stories might otherwise have.

Absolutely not. Only part of our mission includes training Mental Health Coordinators and promoting that role in the industry. Our work mainly consists of promoting mental health and wellbeing in the workplace in any way we can, and a great way to do that is by offering curriculum for EVERYONE!

Here are a few of our favorites! Links and even more resources can be found in a dedicated blog post. - Non-Violent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg - My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem - Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski - Trauma-Informed Education Practices for 9-12 Theatre Education by Jimmy Chrismon and Adam W. Carter - The Whole Picture Toolkit from the Film & TV Charity - Portrayal Guidelines and Recommendations from the Mental Health Storytelling Initiative https://www.mentalhealthcoordinators.org/post/amhc-reading-list

So many ways -- make some noise! Talk to your Unions and local executive boards and committees! Talk to your projects and productions! Invite us to talk to your team! Invite people you know to our free Info Sessions! Chat about our work at lunch! Follow and share us on your socials! @mentalhealthcoordinators on IG

We get a big mix, including: Intimacy Professionals Cultural Consultants Therapists or Mental Health Professionals Actors Teachers Medical/EMS We advise having professional experience in area of the industry you want to work, whether TV/Film or live performance/theatre.