As part of the Behind the Scenes (BTS) Mental Health Initiative, BTS and LDI are bringing the Wellness Lounge to LDI 2023, December 3-5 in Las Vegas. The Wellness Lounge offers attendees a safe space to learn about mental and physical health through daily presentations, activities, and one-on-one consultations. 

All attendees are welcome to join Cup of Coffee Yoga each morning just after the show floor opens, where no experience, equipment, or special attire is required for a brief yoga practice with ETC’s VP of Marketing, David Lincecum. Immediately following, participants can enjoy Breathing and Meditation with University of Tennessee Lighting Professor and licensed meditation instructor Kenton Yeager.

In the afternoons, all attendees are invited to experience short presentations by industry colleagues. These insightful presenters will speak about the biology of sleep, the impacts of sleep deprivation, eating healthier on the road, staying sober at the bar, integrating meditation into the workday, physical wellness and pain management, proper stretching techniques, mental health tools and resources, Mental Health First Aid, and strategies for overcoming stigma. All day, attendees can take advantage of the one-on-one consultations with presenters on sleep, nutrition, mindfulness, and mental health. Presenters include Luther Bell, David Lincecum, Mickey Mazurowski, Molly Michelman, Steven Michelman, Eddie Raymond, Lori Rubinstein, and Kenton Yeager. Attendees are encouraged to check out the Wellness Lounge schedule and add these special events to their calendars.

Attendees can stop by the lounge anytime and visit the Behind the Scenes team to learn about the Mental Health Initiative’s extensive tools and resources and receive valuable information participants can share with their companies, on the jobsite, or at their union hall. 

In addition, BTS is offering three Overdose Prevention Training classes on December 3 and 4 through the There is No Hero In Heroin Foundation (tinhih.org). The training covers basic harm reduction principles, basic harm reduction techniques for those with active use, how to identify and respond to an opioid overdose, and how to administer Narcan®. At the end of each free training, certificates of completion and an Overdose Response kit with 2 Nasal Narcan® doses will be provided to all participants.

On Tuesday, December 5, Steven Michelman will offer a Mental Health First Aid training. This day-long class teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance misuse. It gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support by taking the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations, teaching you how to listen nonjudgmentally and give reassurance, and how to refer a person to appropriate professional support. Upon completing the course you will become a certified Mental Health First Aider, valid for three years. You will need to register for this class in advance. IATSE members may be eligible for reimbursement from the Training Trust Fund.

On Sunday, December 3 from 7:30-8:30am LDI is hosting the Rise and Shine 5K to benefit the Behind the Scenes Mental Health Initiative. Join your colleagues for a meaningful stride towards positive mental health and substance use support at the annual 5K Rise and Shine Walk/Run. Lace up your running shoes and be part of a community dedicated to making a difference. Run with purpose, run with heart – every step counts as you come together to support a worthy cause.

BTS and LDI invite all exhibitors and attendees to join our “We’re Shining a Light on Mental Health” campaign to help reduce the stigma and encourage people to speak openly about mental health and substance use issues. The booth staff of exhibitors supporting the campaign will be wearing a “We’re Shining a Light on Mental Health” button and attendees can pick up their own at the Wellness Lounge. Join these leading exhibitors who have made early pledges to support the campaign: ACT Entertainment, Chauvet, ETC, GLP,  IATSE, iWeiss, and Texas Scenic Company by contacting BTS Executive Director Lori Rubinstein at shinealight@btshelp.org.