63% of Culinary and Hospitality Professionals suffer from depression
84% of Food, Beverage, and Hospitality Workers feel stress from their job
65% of Service Industry Professionals report using substances at work
53% Hospitality and Culinary Workers feel pushed to their breaking point
*Stats from Culinary Hospitality Outreach Wellness (CHOW.com)
According to a 2021 study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 60% of servers at upscale restaurants have at least one mental health problem, such as depression or anxiety.
A 2023 survey by Cozymeal found that 70% of chefs who responded said they had experienced anxiety from working in restaurants. Substance abuse and sleeping disorders also remain high.
* Source – https://www.usfoods.com/our-services/business-trends/prioritizing-mental-health-in-the-restaurant-industry
https://www.barandrestaurant.com/people/service-industry-gets-serious-about-mental-health
David Chang interview about mental health
James Beard blog about vulnerability
Celebrity Chefs share about depression
Benefits of Wellness Efforts
Let’s take a sampling of wellness efforts that are free and available to virtually anyone. You can reap benefits from just ten minutes of meditation or a brisk walk around the block.
Meditation
Researchers at Boston University found that meditation programs can reduce anxiety and depression, making workers more optimistic and increasing their satisfaction with their careers.
Stanford University School of Medicine conducted a study that shows meditation can lead to a 30% decrease in stress-related symptoms that often lead to serious illness.
A Detroit study took a look at how meditation improved productivity in the workplace. It was found that absenteeism fell by 85%, productivity rose by 120% and injuries dropped by 70%.
Exercise
According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise increases endorphins, reduces negative stress impact, boosts mood, and works like a moving meditation.
The Association of Applied Sports Psychology concludes that exercise also increases self esteem and energy while decreasing depression.
Physical activity improves sleep quality by reducing time it takes to fall asleep, and the number of waking interruptions at night. It also increases time spent in deeper stages of sleep, allowing for more restorative sleep,” says Allen Towfigh, MD, medical director of New York Neurology and Sleep Medicine, P.C. and attending physician at Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Harvard research shows that exercise can even help you perform better in the workplace.