being featured in an article by food critic and writer Jay Rayner for a piece in The Guardian asking the question 'Is being a chef bad for your mental health?'
This has resulted in the launch of the Pilot Light campaign which launched earlier this year and aims to get people having an open dialogue about mental health.
Whilst the pressures of the kitchen have clearly had an impact on Andi, he is adamant that despite these struggles that it has also been his saviour too. He comments that “The industry has saved me, for all the long hours and hard work it gives me a sense of where I belong”
Andi wants to encourage other people suffering to speak up and cites his son as the motivation to keep him on track. He says: “This shitty illness stands no chance at all if it thinks it is coming between me and my son. I just want to speak out so other feel that they can..never judge anyone or their story…and for fucks sake, speak up!!! You are not alone and there is always someone that can help”
He concludes his powerful message with a plea to spread his story and comments that ‘if one person reaches out and asks for help’ then he is happy that his bad times have helped someone else.
His post has received a number of replies from several chefs within the hospitality industry including Anton Piotrowski who retweeted Andi’s emotive tweet adding his comment: “As someone who’s suffered from depression myself, let’s not allow others to suffer in silence. Speak up and let’s stop the stigma that’s far too closely attached. Only this way can we help others and our future generation!”.
Chef Andrew O’ Connor echoed Anton’s thoughts saying “Well written chef. I struggle too and hit the drink hard at times to blank everything and everyone out. #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek”
Jon Fell, Alan Paton, Jon Roper and James Brandon amongst others have also tweeted messages of support and Andi has also received lots of positive support from people outside of the cheffing community too.
By Emma Harrison
@canteenemma
