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Hospitality Action starts workplace mental health programme

20th Jan 2020 - 08:29
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Industry charity Hospitality Action has joined forces with foodservice provider Compass Group UK & Ireland to launch a new mental health awareness programme.

Today (20 January 2020) is Blue Monday, which is considered to be the saddest day of the year. This is because post-festive finances are at their worst and many New Year’s resolutions have already been broken. 

Hospitality Action launched their new programme today, which aims to dispel the stigma attached to mental health in the hospitality industry. 

The scheme will also provide support to those who need it by equipping operators with the knowledge, resources and tools to safeguard against situations that could result in a mental health crisis. 

Mark Lewis, chief executive of Hospitality Action, said: “In the last two years, Hospitality Action has seen a marked increase in cases involving a mental health problem, and sadly we have seen the aftermath of far too many suicides – particularly those of young men. 

“Mental health problems and self-harm are currently a major problem in businesses across the UK. We want to act quickly to provide practical, simple information and tools that are easy to implement and can help break the taboos that surround talking about our mental health.

“By having Compass, Pladis & The Savoy Educational Trust on-board, we are able to raise the bar further and we hope to reach many more people with our message.”

Hospitality Action research in 2018 found four out of five hospitality workers find their jobs stressful some or most of the time. The research also revealed that over half of participants (56%) do not make their employers aware of the mental health problems. 

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK- with a disproportionate prevalence in the hospitality sector. 

Robin Mills, managing director of Compass Group UK & Ireland, added: “We work in a brilliant industry which provides fantastic opportunities, but we mustn’t shy away from the fact that it can also be challenging. 

“That’s why programmes like the one Hospitality Action are launching today are so vitally important and I’m thrilled that Compass is joining forces with Hospitality Action to help drive it forward.” 

For more information about the work they do visit the Hospitality Action website.

Written by
Edward Waddell