After learning of celebrity chef Anne Burell’s death, which was ruled as a suicide, we want to reiterate the importance of mental health in the hospitality industry. Even when a personality appears perky, successful, and put together, that doesn’t mean things are perfect for them. Emotions run high in restaurants, bars, and hotels, and even when there’s a placid mask put on for guests, a lot may be brewing under the surface.
In honor of Burell and other chefs and industry workers who have suffered, it’s time to pause and take a mental health check. We asked Erin Boyle, CEO of the Culinary Hospitality Outreach Wellness, an organization known better as CHOW, to write an op-ed piece for us regarding mental health in the restaurant and hospitality industry, and some of the resources out there. Read more from Boyle and CHOW below. – Linnea Covington
Meet CHOW
Culinary Hospitality Outreach and Wellness, or CHOW, exists to shift the narrative from survive to thrive. CHOW is a nonprofit organization created by and for people in the FBH industry who understand firsthand the pressure, pace, and emotional toll of the work. Our mission is to improve the lives of food, beverage, and hospitality workers through shared stories, skills, and resources. The goal is to bridge the gap between clinical care and everyday workers by offering community care.
Facilitated by individuals in recovery from mental health and substance use challenges, and with industry experience, CHOW meets people where they are. Whether they’re navigating addiction, grief, burnout, or just trying to get through another shift, we offer free group discussion meetings, virtual access to recovery tools, and connections to clinical professionals.
We deliver this all without intake forms, waitlists, or complicated scheduling. You don’t need to be in a crisis. You don’t need to be sober. You don’t even need to know what you need. We’ll help you figure out the next step.
An Industry In Crisis
The food, beverage, and hospitality (FBH) industry is in crisis and has been for some time. It has the highest rate of substance use of any industry, ranks third in alcohol use, and consistently ranks among the lowest in overall well-being.
These statistics aren’t just numbers; they reflect a culture where long hours, high stress, and substance use are the norm. A culture where safe, stigma-free spaces for support are rare. Workers are burning out, struggling with mental health, and too often suffering in silence.
Since COVID-19 the pressure has only intensified. The industry was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic. We faced constant regulation changes, closures, and economic instability. Many waited for a return to normalcy, but instead found fewer coworkers, higher expectations, rising costs, and public pushback over inflated menu prices.
More Work, Less Money
Today, a smaller workforce is expected to do more with less, while the already-thin profit margins continue to shrink. On the ground, this can mean job insecurity, low wages, physically demanding shifts, and interactions with increasingly stressed customers. And for many of these workers, mental health and substance use support remains out of reach.
The hardship isn’t felt equally. The industry’s structure has long disadvantaged workers of color, immigrants, women, undocumented individuals, and returning citizens. Many of these folks earn less, are more vulnerable to exploitation, and lack access to benefits or protections. Studies show that these inequities can lead to systemic problems including racial pay gaps, job instability, and disproportionate exposure to workplace harm.
Despite all of this, the FBH industry remains one of the most diverse and vital sectors of our economy. It employs people of all ages, races, identities, and income levels. The people I know in the industry are among the most creative, adaptable workers. A diverse and varied population deserves diverse and varied support to keep it running in wellness and community.
Why CHOW Works
Peer support works because it builds real connection rooted in shared experience. It improves self-efficacy, quality of life, and service engagement, while reducing hospitalizations and overdose risk. CHOW offers powerful, low-cost pathways to recovery that clinical care alone often can’t provide and it supports both individuals seeking help and those offering it.
CHOW’s work goes beyond meetings. We provide education, resource navigation, harm reduction tools like naloxone and fentanyl test strips, and workshops focused on wellness, recovery, and resilience. Our goal is to create a culture where taking care of your mental health is as normal as clocking in for a shift. And where every worker feels seen, supported, and equipped to thrive. If wellness is a bridge, CHOW is the first few planks and we will work with you to get you to the other side.
Call To Diners
Just like diners helped take the farm-to-table concept from idea to movement, we now ask you to join a new one: human sustainability. Choose to invest not just in excellent service, but in the well-being of the people who provide it. Ask whether your server is earning a living wage. Advocate for better working conditions. Tip generously. Maybe get curious about whether your tips support the whole team. Support organizations that support the industry, like CHOW, the Independent Restaurant Coalition, Southern Smoke, and The Giving Kitchen.
Join the Movement
This is more than a fad or a momentary concern. It’s a systemic shift towards a sustainable workforce.
Let’s build a culture of compassion, where wellness is part of every business model. Demand more funding for harm reduction and mental health support. Create spaces where workers can be real, take off the mask, and stop the stigma. Speak up for industry-wide change. Demand adding trigger warnings on shows like The Bear.
If this mission speaks to you, join us. We’re looking for ambassadors to help grow the movement. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out. You are not alone.
Additional Resources
Kind Therapy Inc.: Offers some pro bono programs for the FBH industry as well as always offering affordable clinical services.
Southern Smoke: Emergency relief and clinical mental health services
Giving Kitchen: Giving Kitchen directly pays housing and utility bills for qualified clients experiencing a crisis.
MORE Coalition: A coalition of organizations with a shared vision of a restaurant industry that’s thriving, equitable, and enduring.
