Mental health is hard to talk about in any setting. But especially in the hospitality industry.
In a recent survey of 1273 hospitality professionals, 8 out of 10 respondents had experienced mental health issues during their career and 46% would not feel comfortable talk about their health concerns with their colleagues. So how do we address this looming crisis? Enter the The Burnt Chef Project.
Launched in May of 2019, The Burnt Chef project was set up with the sole intention of eradicating the mental health stigma in the hospitality industry. Knowing how important this need is, Aaron talks with David Thornton, the lead Ambassador for The Burnt Chef Project in the United States. They talk about David's mental health journey, the mission behind The Burnt Chef Project, and how invaluable it is to address mental health in the hospitality industry.
Starting in the hospitality industry 24 years ago in a small brewing company in Wasilla, Alaska at age 14, David Thornton found his passion for the industry. He attended the Scottsdale Culinary Institute Le Cordon Bleu, where he received an Associate’s Degree in the culinary arts. He is a Pro Chef mentor through The Culinary Institute of America and instructs any chance he can at Christian Culinary Academy in Cannon Beach, Oregon. I currently live in Washington and have spent time traveling throughout the Pacific Northwest looking for adventure, places to forage and promoting the beauty of our unique cuisine. Myguests, in many sectors of our industry, have enjoyed the bounty of this seasonal, fresh approach to menu planning. My most uncommon work experience was 400 miles north of the Arctic Circle, serving 1,800 meals a day. Like many Hospitality workers, he has struggled with mental health. As the ambassador for Burnt Chefs in the USA his goal is to work to ensure there is always a safe space to talk and work through the mental struggles we face in our industry.
If you need help with your mental health or need to speak to someone, you can text 'HOME' to 741741, or visit https://www.theburntchefproject.com/helpandsupport for additional resources.
Tips From Trestle is a podcast focused on discussion about senior living food & hospitality. Hosted by Trestle Hospitality Concepts Founder & CEO Aaron Fish, he shares his thoughts, musings and discussions about the food & beverage operations, trends and happenings in the senior living industry. To support the podcast, click here: https://anchor.fm/tips-from-trestle/support
Additional Links:
Aaron Fish: www.linkedin.com/in/aaronfish
Trestle Hospitality Concepts: www.trestlehospitalityconcepts.com
David Thornton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chef-david-thornton/
The Burnt Chef Project: https://www.theburntchefproject.com/
