EXCLUSIVE: The BBC is placing renewed focus on improving staff mental health by creating a small wellbeing team led by a psychotherapist who contributed to the parliamentary inquiry into reality TV. Dr Hayley Dare was announced internally this week as the BBC’s Head of Wellbeing, while Lucy Tallon, who used to work for The Film & TV Charity, becomes Wellbeing Partner. We understand there have also been a number of more junior, internal hires to the team.
Taking up newly-created roles, Dare and Tallon will support employees across both the public service side of the BBC and commercial arm BBC Studios with their mental health and wellbeing, aiming for productions to be more ‘mentally healthy’ and to give staff an outlet. A team focusing on staff welfare already exists but this new division places mental health front and center. “We’re dedicated to creating an environment where employees can thrive and do their best work,” said a BBC spokeswoman, who confirmed the hires.
“These roles will support our ongoing commitment to their mental health and wellbeing, as part of well-established plans in this area.” Dare is a chartered consultant clinical psychologist who most recently founded Neurequity, a workplace mental health and wellbeing portal. She was a specialist adviser to the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Committee’s inquiry into reality TV for two years from the summer of 2019.
That inquiry was sparked by the suicide of a contestant on the now-axed Jeremy Ky.