Compassion in the Kitchen:

Prioritizing Mental Health In Foodservice

For those who haven’t discovered this gem of a series yet, FX’s The Bear is an original show based on a young, award-winning fine-dining chef who returns to his hometown of Chicago to run his family’s sandwich shop after the tragic suicide of his brother. While there are moments of exaggeration, there’s consensus among industry professionals that the show is so accurate, some can’t stand to watch. The stress. The sense of urgency. The unrealistic demands for perfection. The verbal assaults. The anxiety.

The series portrays the challenging reality of working in a kitchen and the toll it takes on the staff ’s emotional and physical well-being. The Bear fearlessly uncovers mental health challenges often overlooked in the restaurant business, including depression, anxiety, addiction, and eating disorders.

Associating worth with the ability to handle pressure leads to shame and stigma for individuals facing mental illness, causing them to suffer in silence. To make matters worse, the lack of health insurance or wellness benefits often makes it financially impossible to seek help, intensifying the struggle.

But the industry is changing. Chefs, restaurant owners, and industry veterans are establishing support groups and organizations for restaurant employees, addressing mental health issues and offering free online resources.

See what these valuable organizations have to offer:

CHEFS WITH ISSUES chefswithissues.com facebook.com/groups/ chefswithissues/

Founded by former CNN food reporter and food writer Kat Kinsman, this organization supports restaurant workers facing depression or substance abuse.

FAIR KITCHENS fairkitchens.com/en.html

A movement of chefs supporting chefs striving to make the industry a fairer, more inclusive place. Operators share successes, challenges, and resources to help create a positive kitchen culture.

HEALTHY HOSPO healthyhospo.com

Founded by Tim Etherington-Judge, this non-profit organization provides virtual training for hospitality workers on sleep, nutrition, mental health, and more as part of a preventative approach.

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