Will’s story: Lights, camera, support 

When Will began working in the art department in the film and TV industry, he expected long days, tight deadlines and plenty of problem solving. What he didn’t expect was how quickly he’d need the confidence to support a colleague experiencing a mental health crisis. 

For Will, Mental Health First Aid® (MHFA) became more than a training course. It gave him practical skills he has already drawn on in the workplace, strengthened his understanding of mental health, and ultimately inspired him to raise more than $1,000 for Mental Health First Aid. 

Finding confidence through Mental Health First Aid 

A 2024 university graduate, Will has spent the past year building a career in Western Australia’s film and TV industry. Outside of work, he’s passionate about storytelling and the way film can bring people together through shared understanding. 

He’s drawn to how film and TV can surface themes that often go unnoticed, introduce audiences to new perspectives, and bring people together through entertainment and understanding – something he’d later recognise in his experience with MHFA. 

“I’ve felt motivated to advocate for mental health awareness and understanding in my everyday life. I now have a much better understanding of its impacts, but I also feel much better equipped to help others too.” 

For Will, one of the biggest lessons was recognising that honest conversations aren’t always easy.

“Being open and non-judgemental is how we start to break down the stigma, because everyone deserves to feel understood and respected,” says Will.  

Putting the training into practice 

Although the screen industry is often seen as glamorous, Will says the reality can be demanding. 

“The screen industry is a highly stressful environment with quick turnarounds, strenuous working hours and a lot of problem solving involved.” 

Those pressures became very real when one of his colleagues experienced what Will recognised as a mental health crisis. 

“Having the skills to provide mental health first aid to my coworkers has been vital in my current position. One of my colleagues needed support to get back on track.” 

The experience reinforced just how valuable the training had been, both for supporting others and recognising when he needed support himself. 

“The MHFA training encouraged me to reach out when this impacted my own mental health and I feel much better for it.” 

“I’ve always disliked the feeling of being unprepared in times of need, so being trained in MHFA really boosted my self-confidence to properly support those I care about.” 

Running for a cause that matters 

Earlier this year, Will decided to sign up for HBF Run for a Reason as a way to improve his own physical and mental wellbeing. 

“I realised I had an opportunity to raise funds to help other people going through struggles like the ones I had witnessed and experienced.” 

Eager to make a difference, he set out to raise $500. 

But thanks to the generosity of friends, family and colleagues within his community, he raised more than $1,000 to support the training of more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA Instructors.

“I’m really grateful to have such a generous community around me. I didn’t really expect to even reach my target, so that support definitely helped push me to the finish line.” 

One conversation can make a difference 

For Will, Mental Health First Aid is about making it easier for people to be ready to step forward when someone needs support. 

“I strongly believe that a conversation could save a life. Initiating that conversation can be necessary, because reaching out can be quite the challenge for someone who’s struggling.” 

He hopes more people choose to complete the training, regardless of where they work or who they support. 

“Having the knowledge and understanding around mental health will help us all get one step closer to reducing stigma.” 

His advice is simple:

“Check in on your mates, because an awkward conversation is always better than one you’ll regret never starting.”  

Mental Health First Aid International welcomes the Australian Screen Industry’s Mental Health Action Plan – a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy developed by Screen Well to improve mental health, reduce risk, and support more sustainable working practices across the sector.

The plan recognises Mental Health First Aid® training as a recommended pathway for building peer support capability across the industry, and we look forward to supporting screen workplaces as they put this plan into action.