Bristol project to tackle poor mental health in chefs launches

Kris Hall founded The Burnt Chef Project to improve mental health awareness within the hospitality sector

New mental health training for chefs and hospitality workers will help tackle a "massive" problem within the industry, organisers have said.

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

Founder Kris Hall, 36, from Somerset, wants to "destigmatise" talking about mental health in the kitchen.

Chef Tom Green, 41, from Bristol said the project would help save lives as there has been "no one to turn to".

Mr Green said: "Having open lines of communication for people who are struggling, that is really what was missing when I was in kitchens - there was just no one to turn to.

"There was nothing, the Samaritans, but not people you can relate to and you do feel isolated living as chefs, working 20-hour days."

He said he knew of people in the industry who had taken their lives due to experiencing poor mental health.

"I've lost three people to poor mental health in the industry," he said. "Had Burnt Chef been around, that could have made a difference."

Bristol's night-time economy workers have said before they often feel exploited and overworked..

The new partnership between The Burnt Chef Project and the council's Bristol Night's Thrive at Night programme aims to help chefs and hospitality workers learn tangible skills.

In six free sessions, a mental health professional will give advice on how to tackle work-related stress and have conversations with people who may be struggling.

'Sizeable problem'

Mr Hall, from Castle Cary, said the four-hour sessions will tackle the myths around mental illness.

"Participants will gain an understanding of the impact of poor mental health within hospitality and we work with them to destigmatise some of the myths around mental illness, specifically within our sector," he said.

"We then also look at how to identify and recognise some of the main underlying mental health issues we experience in this sector, such as anxiety and depression, suicide, drug and alcohol use."

He said poor mental health within hospitality is a "sizeable problem" and that is also why they have a 24/7 text support system.

Mr Hall aims to break down the stigma on mental health issues

He said: "From my own lived experience of mental illness, I just wanted other people to understand they could open the conversation and it didn't need to be as scary and intimidating as I once found it.

"The industry is so massive and no one up until the point I put my head above the parapet decided to take this on.

"It is damaging to industries to expect people to operate like machines because we can't, biologically or physiologically."

Mr Hall added that Bristol council has provisionally agreed to book a further 12 sessions over the next two years.

Chef Tom Green is an advocate for The Burnt Chef

Mr Green, who has run numerous kitchens, said the project has helped him personally and poor mental health is a "massive problem".

He said: "It is rife in all industries but the thing hospitality has, is we're basically working when everyone else is having a nice time and I think being away from your families is hard - working Christmas is hard.

"There is a work hard play hard attitude - we're surrounded by alcohol, we work long days and then we go out late at night.

"There is a massive problem with drink and drugs in the industry."

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said it was key that those working in hospitality in Bristol "are looked after and have access to support".

He said: "These jobs can be incredibly high-pressured, and it's key that those working in these venues are looked after, and have access to support.

"The partnership with Burnt Chef means that our hospitality workers will be supported, and their mental health and wellbeing will be prioritised."

Carly Heath, the night time economy advisor for Bristol City Council, said: "I'm really excited to bring The Burnt Chef Project to the city to offer their insight experience and help us to shape a new approach to mental health training."

The Burnt Chef Project is running sessions in Bristol on January 9, February 13, March 13 and March 26.

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