Bristol project to tackle poor mental health in chefs launches

New mental health training for chefs and hospitality workers will help tackle a “huge” issue within the industry, organizers said.

The Burnt Chef Project has partnered with Bristol City Council to offer free support sessions.

Founder Chris Hall, 36, from Somerset, wants to “de-stigmatize” talking about mental health in the kitchen.

Chef Tom Green, 41, from Bristol, said the project would help save lives because there was “no one to turn to”.

“Having an open line of communication for people in need was something that was missing when I was in the kitchen,” Green said. “There was no one to turn to.” Ta.

“The Samaritans didn't have anything, but they didn't have people to empathize with. When you work 20 hours a day and make a living as a chef, you feel lonely.”

He said he knows of people in the industry who have taken their own lives due to poor mental health.

“I've lost three people in this industry to poor mental health,” he said. “If Chef Burnt had been there, things might have been different.”

A new partnership between The Burnt Chef Project and the city council's Bristol Night's Thrive at Night program aims to help chefs and hospitality workers develop specific skills.

In six free sessions, mental health experts will give advice on how to cope with work-related stress and speak to those who may be suffering.

Mr Hall, of Carey Castle, said the four-hour session would tackle myths surrounding mental illness.

He said: “Participants will gain a better understanding of the impact of poor mental health in the hospitality industry and will work with participants to dismantle misconceptions surrounding mental illness, particularly within our industry.”

“We will also look at how to identify and recognize some of the underlying mental health issues experienced in this area, such as anxiety and depression, suicide, and drug and alcohol use.”

He said poor mental health in the hospitality industry was a “huge issue”, which is why the company has a 24/7 text support system.

He said, “From my own lived experience with mental illness, I want others to understand that it's okay to start a conversation and that it doesn't have to be as scary and intimidating as I once felt.'' Only.

“This industry is so huge that no one decided to try it until I put my head on the railing.

“Expecting humans to behave like machines is detrimental to the industry because humans are biologically or physiologically incapable of doing that.”

Mr Hall added that Bristol City Council had tentatively agreed to book a further 12 sessions over the next two years.

Mr Green, who has run a number of kitchens, said the project had helped him personally and that poor mental health was a “huge issue”.

He said: “Hospitality, which is pervasive in every industry, is basically that we're working while other people are having a good time. It's hard to be away from your family.'' I think that's why it's difficult to work on Christmas.''

“We work hard and play hard. We are surrounded by alcohol, we work all day and stay out late.

“There is a huge problem in the industry with drinks and drugs.”

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said it was important that people working in Bristol's hospitality industry were “cared for and supported”.

He said: “These jobs are incredibly high-pressure and it's important that people working in these jobs are cared for and supported.”

“Our partnership with Burnt Chef means our hospitality workers are supported and their mental health and wellbeing is prioritized.”

Carly Heath, Night Time Economy Advisor at Bristol City Council, said: “We are really excited to be bringing The Burnt Chef Project to the city to provide an insightful experience and help shape a new approach to mental health training. “I'm working on it,” he said.

Burnt Chef Project will be holding sessions in Bristol on January 9th, February 13th, March 13th and March 26th.

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