This spring and beyond, the Behind the Scenes Mental Health Initiative is offering a fresh schedule of virtual trainings, giving industry professionals renewed opportunities to build skills that support safer, healthier workplaces. These virtual sessions equip participants to recognize and respond when colleagues are facing mental health or substance use challenges or experiencing bullying and harassment.
Dealing with Alcohol and Substance Use Issues in the Workplace: Why and How we Help
Substance misuse continues to impact entertainment industry workers daily, whether on the job or off—meaning it’s likely you’ve encountered, or will encounter, it in your workplace. It could be anyone: a colleague, a supervisor, or someone you manage.
This interactive webinar, developed by industry professionals with lived experience alongside an addiction specialist, provides practical tools to help you respond. Learn how to recognize the signs of addiction, start a conversation with someone you’re concerned about, navigate situations where they may not be ready to seek help, and understand available treatment options and industry resources. The session also addresses both short-term and ongoing work relationships, as well as union and employer responsibilities.
The webinar on Monday, April 27 at 7pm ET is free, but advance registration at btshelp.org/workplace is required to receive the login details.
Mental Health First Aid
Become a certified Mental Health First Aider and join over 1,800 entertainment industry professionals making a real difference in their workplaces. MHFA helps take the uncertainty out of starting conversations, offering practical tools to listen without judgment, provide reassurance, and connect colleagues to appropriate professional support.
Upcoming virtual classes are being offered April 24, May 14 and June 15. Visit btshelp.org/mhfa to register. The course is delivered in two parts. The first is a 2 hour self-paced online course that must be completed prior to an interactive 6 hour virtual, live instructor-led session.
The registration fee is $125. IATSE Members and those working under IATSE agreements may be eligible for Training Trust Fund reimbursement upon proof of successful completion of the course. A limited number of partial and full scholarships are available to individuals not eligible for reimbursement.
Private group classes of 10 -25 are available – contact mhfa@btshelp.org for information.
Bystander Intervention in the Entertainment Workplace
When you see bullying or harassment at work, knowing how to respond can make all the difference. This 90-minute training gives you five simple, effective tools to safely intervene—no guesswork, no escalation. Through entertainment industry scenarios, you’ll learn how to take action in a way that feels right for you.
The webinar is free but advance registration at btshelp.org/bystander is required in order to receive the zoom login. Upcoming dates are April 24 and July 13.
Behind the Scenes is partnering with Right To Be, a social justice organization that specializes in education around bullying and harassment, to present these free interactive webinars. These webinars are sponsored by the IATSE International and are open to all entertainment industry workers.
As the industry continues to evolve, BTS remains committed to reducing stigma and strengthening a culture of care across the entertainment community and we can’t do it without you! Visit btshelp.org/mentalhealth to see all the available tools and resources in our Mental Health Initiative.
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