Wellness Resources
American Culinary Federation advocates for Work/Life Balance for all who work in the foodservice industry. To support this goal the organization is dedicated to providing strategies and solutions for all chefs and cooks to attain and sustain physical, emotional and professional balance; and opportunities for growth and development. ACF is dedicated to the creation of resources, innovative programs, webinars and continuing education classes in order to continue the discussion and dialogue with members for present and future generations of chefs to join the field.
Employment data show that the food and hospitality industry has the highest rate of employees with substance use disorder of any industry, and that stress, suicide and mental illness are also critical concerns for culinary professionals.
Sustainable change for a healthier industry starts with you and the culture of your kitchen. Build your toolkit by taking advantage of resources available to support chefs who are dedicated to creating better industry with emphasis on wellness and the importance of work/life balance. Healthy Employees = Healthy Positive ROI = Sustainable Operation.
To support our members, ACF and the ACF Work/Balance Task Force have compiled the following Mental Wellness Resources for the Foodservice Industry.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. For help, dial 988.
ACF’s Wellness Partners
CHOW’s mission is to support wellness within the hospitality industry and to improve the lives of our community through shared stories, skills, and resources. Virtual and in-person meetings available.
Ben’s Friends offers a community, hope and a path forward for food and beverage professionals who struggle with addiction and substance abuse. Daily meetings; virtual and in-person meetings available.
ACF ChefsForum Webinar Recordings on Mental Health
Additional Wellness Resources for Culinary Wellness
Four out of five hospitality professionals report having experienced at least one mental health issue during their career. The Burnt Chef Project is a globally recognized not-for-profit, fully
fully committed to making the hospitality profession healthier and more sustainable by focusing on people’s well-being first.
Active Minds is a nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for young adults. Powered by a network on more than 800 high school and college campuses, in workplaces and communities, and through a vast public audience, Active Minds is creating communities of support and saving lives. Join the Active Minds movement to change the conversation about mental health.
Not 9 to 5 is a nonprofit global leader in mental health advocacy for the foodservice and hospitality sector. Through practical education and meaningful community-building, we are reimagining the industry by breaking stigmas and fueling hope. Their vision is physical and psychological safety for the entire hospitality and culinary workforce. USA and Canada.
These are incredibly difficult times. People across our community are struggling not just financially, but also physically and emotionally.
Big Table serves hope by building community and caring for those in crisis, transition, or falling through the cracks.
FairKitchens is a movement fighting for a more resilient and sustainable foodservice and hospitality industry, calling for change by showing that a healthier culture makes for a healthier business. It strives to make the industry a fairer, more inclusive and happier place to be to keep the talent we have today and attract the talent we need for the future. The movement was founded in 2018 by Unilever Food Solutions.
TrevorLifeline
LGBTQ+ individuals experience discrimination and harassment in the workplace. This directly and negatively impacts LGBTQ+ individuals’ mental health.
TrevorLifeline. (866) 488-7386. Crisis intervention and suicide prevention phone service available 24/7/365. TrevorText line: Text START to 678678.
CORE - Children of Restaurant Employees Assistance Program
Injury. Family Death. Natural Disaster. If you’re a food and beverage service employee with children, CORE can help. CORE: Children of Restaurant Employees provides financial relief to food and beverage service employees with children when navigating a qualifying circumstance.
US Dept of Health & Human Services: The Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator is an online source of information for persons seeking treatment facilities in the United States or U.S. Territories for substance use/addiction and/or mental health problems.
People who work in restaurants often put their emotional lives aside to prioritize others’ needs, which can make experiencing and understanding our grief especially challenging.
Free, downloadable worksheets you can use and share to better understand yourself, work through problems, identify areas to change, and process your experiences—both in your life and at work. Ex. Coping with grief & loss while working in restaurants.
If your community has been hit by a natural disaster, you’re probably trying to make sense of what happened and deal with the stress of the situation. These events create a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety for those directly and indirectly affected.
The national Disaster Distress Helpline—call or text (800) 985-5990—is dedicated to providing crisis counseling and support 24/7/365 for anyone in the U.S./territories experiencing emotional distress or other mental health concerns related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Callers can connect with DDH hotline counselors in 100+ additional languages via third-party interpretation services.
Live Another Day believes in equal access to life-saving mental health and substance use resources. This website provides extensive information on the best resources available.
An excellent resource that features abundant information including mental health and substance use resources specifically for the AAPI (American Asian and Pacific Islander) community.
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