Mental health awareness in the hospitality industry

What is mental health?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

What are the warning signs of mental illness?

Stress
Anxiety, fear and panic
Low mood, sadness and depression
Feeling lonely
Grief after bereavement or loss
Anger
Loneliness in older people
Signs of an anxiety disorder
Hallucinations and hearing voices
Suicidal thoughts
Self-harm

Mental Health Awareness

Mental health awareness is the ongoing effort to reduce the stigma around mental illness and mental health conditions by sharing our personal experiences. Often, because of misconceptions about mental health and mental fitness, people often suffer in silence and their conditions go untreated

Why is Mental health a significant concern in the UK hospitality industry?

Long antisocial hours, tough environmental conditions and pressures to perform are just some of the issues that hospitality professionals are fighting against on a daily basis.

A survey of 1273 hospitality professionals conducted by The Burnt Chef Project, showed that 8 out of 10 (84%) of respondents had experienced mental health issues within their career and 46% would not feel comfortable talking about their health concerns with their colleagues.

Hospitality staff should be able to discuss the state of their mental health and gain support from their peers and employers. It's important that although mental health can't be seen it is regularly discussed and policies reviewed. This should be the new definition of 'badge of honour'.

The fast-paced and demanding nature of the industry, combined with long working hours and low pay, can contribute to high levels of stress and burnout among workers.

If you need support

The Burnt Chef Project 

TEXT: BURNTCHEF to 85258

​or call via freephone 0800 915 4610 or by email [email protected].​ All calls and emails answered by counsellors and clinically trained psychotherapists

Hospitality Action

Call: 0808 802 0282 (24/7)

Link: HERE