Hospitality workers report high levels of stress, anxiety and depression, linked to long and unsocial hours, insecure contracts, easy access to alcohol and a culture that has historically prized toughness over openness. Industry charities offer confidential helplines, counselling, financial grants and wellbeing resources specifically for people in the trade, and many venues now train mental health first aiders who can spot when someone is struggling and point them towards help. Employers also have a legal duty under health and safety law to assess the risk of work-related stress like any other hazard, and to act on what they find, which means looking at workloads, rotas and management behaviour, not just putting up a poster.
Small things count: a manager who asks how someone really is, time off that is respected, and a team where admitting a bad day is normal. The conversation is far more open than it once was, but the conditions that drive poor mental health still need fixing.
What we ask on the show
- What changed when your team started talking openly about mental health?
- Is mental health first aid training enough, or a box-tick?
- How do you support someone who is struggling but can't afford time off?
- What does a psychologically safe kitchen look like?