Each one of us is responsible for taking care of our mental health, at work and at home. It’s important to understand that the journey to a healthy mind fits along a Mental Health Continuum or in stages.

Effective communication is easier said than done. It can be especially difficult to communicate effectively when you are busy on set and have people around and tasks that need doing. For this reason, we suggest that you only engage in a conversation about a mental health or substance abuse issue during a slower period, or before or after work, when you can give your full attention to your peer, and they can give their full attention to you. In this module, you will learn tools and strategies to have an effective conversation with a fellow crew member who is struggling with mental health or substance use.

When we think about mental health issues, we typically think of things like anxiety, depression, addiction or burnout. But what about being “stressed out”? Feeling like you’re “losing it”? Needing a drink or a toke because you “can’t take the pressure”?

All of these are important to pay attention to when it comes to assessing our emotional and mental health and wellbeing, or the wellbeing of fellow crew members and colleagues.

By now, if you’ve been following along with the first 3 Modules, you might feel ready and willing to help a peer in need. You might even feel equipped to ask your peer how they’re doing and listen with an empathetic ear. So what if one of your peers does share something about their struggles and asks you for help – what then? In this module, we’ll explore what you can offer to support your fellow crew member while maintaining awareness of your own limits.