Essential Cuisine head of marketing Ben Forbes handed over a cheque of £1,400 to Hospitality Action’s chief executive Mark Lewis.
The amount donated is symbolic of the one in four people who experience a mental health problem in their lifetime, according to mental health charity Mind.
Yesterday (10 October) was Mental Health Awareness Day and it is important that hospitality employers tackle mental health in the workplace by supporting their staff.
During Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May 2019) some Essential Cuisine chefs opened up about their own struggles.
In 2017, Unite carried out a survey on chefs in London to determine the impact of their jobs on their wellbeing. Almost half regularly worked between 48 and 60 hours a week while 78% said they’d had an accident or a near miss through fatigue.
More than a quarter of those surveyed admitted they were drinking alcohol to get through their shift and 56% admitted to taking painkillers. Over half of those surveyed said they had suffered from depression due to overworking.
Forbes said: “Hospitality Action works tirelessly for the good of the industry and so we’re proud to continue our support by way of this donation.
“Mental health and wellbeing in working kitchens are of such high importance – it’s crucial we get people opening up and talking about their experiences, and that we signpost them to organisations like Hospitality Action so they can get the help they need.”
To find out more about the work Hospitality Action does, visit: www.hospitalityaction.org.uk.