The hospitality industry is facing a mental health crisis, with over half of its staff admitting they are suffering from suicidal and harmful thoughts, according to a new report.
Despite the high-octane energy that welcomes customers into our favourite restaurants, hotels, and bars, statistics reveal that behind this joyful customer service is a sector of workers at high risk of poor mental health and suicide.
Today (September 10) on World Suicide Prevention Day, R;pple, the suicide prevention charity, reveals the unknown mental health crisis affecting the hospitality industry, after speaking to thousands of chefs, bartenders, front of house, and waiting staff across the UK.
The new statistics reveal that a shocking 59% of hospitality workers are experiencing mental health issues whilst at work, and over half have thought of suicide, self-harm, or other harmful, negative thoughts. This means most of us would have at one point come face-to-face with someone having a mental health crisis while they ‘happily’ serve customers.
Despite putting on a happy face, over half (55%) of respondents who are or have experienced mental health conditions admit that they have also searched for harmful content online while at work, with two-thirds of hospitality workers (66%) identifying job stress and working conditions as key issues contributing to the problem.
R;pple, a digital crisis intervention tool that has intercepted over 50,000 harmful searches, is campaigning for change in partnership with the Revolution Bars Group and has rolled out the R;pple tool for its employees, along with The Burnt Chef Project – a community for mental health support and education for the hospitality industry.
R;pple is calling on employers to sign up to its five commitments, such as mandatory suicide prevention training, for employers to pledge to, to make positive changes and protect their workforce.
Alice Hendy MBE, founder of R;pple, said: “Most of us regularly interact with people in hospitality without any knowledge of the mental health crisis they might be facing, so these statistics are a stark reminder of the need for change. The positive news is mental health stigma is lifting, but we still found only around half of those concerned about a colleague encouraged them to talk. We need to make sure that everyone working in a highly affected sector like hospitality is protected by their employers in the workplace online, in the same way their health and safety is protected physically.”
Alongside Revolution Bars and The Burnt Chef Project, R;pple will also be hosting a panel talk and Q&A to ignite conversation and change and help reduce the stigma around suicide. Taking place on 30th September in central London, key speakers will include Alice Hendy MBE (R;pple), Kris Hall (The Burnt Chef Project), Danielle James (Revolution Bars Group PLC) and others to be announced that faced their own mental health crisis in the industry with powerful stories to tell.
For more information on R;pple’s World Suicide Prevention Day Campaign, and to sign up to the five commitments for your business, head to Hospitality Pledge – R;pple Suicide Prevention