Charity serving up courses to reduce high levels of mental health distress in hospitality sector

Hospitality mental health advocates are firing up their push to address rampant levels of mental health issues in one of the State’s largest sectors.

Founders and organisers of Healthy Mind Menu — a charity which provides mental health training to hospitality workers — met up on Friday alongside Mental Health Minister Meredith Hammat to preview its latest push for donations.

According to the charity, more than a third of hospitality workers experience high psychological distress, three times the national average.

More than 85,000 people work in accommodation and food services, making it the seventh largest industry by number of employees.

Healthy Mind Menu operations manager Paisley Fogarty said behind the friendly demeanour serving customers, workers often found it difficult to keep up.

“Behind all of those special moments that we share at venues is a team of hospitality workers who are working really hard and sometimes they give the absolute best of themselves to perfect strangers they will never see again,” she said.

“What we found in the research is that it comes at quite a high price, the emotional, the physical, and the stress, the burnout that staff members can experience.”

The charity offers both in person training for wellbeing and mental health first aid as well as online courses for both employees and bosses.

Ms Fogarty said the courses were leading to positive outcomes.

“People feel relieved that it even exists in the first place, a lot of people are surprised,” she said.

“I believe we’re the only charity, hospitality focused that’s offering hospitality specific resources.

“The fact that they can find mental health support that’s tailored for them, it makes sense people are really grateful and excited.”

The charity will be hosting its fifth annual Plating for a Purpose dinner, with the hopes of raising more than $100,000.