Hospitality industry needs better mental health support
A Hobart chef has opened up about his mental health battles, expressing the need for more mental health support to be offered to the state’s hospitality industry due to the pandemic and lockdowns.
Carl Windsor, owner of North Hobart food and wine bar Willing Brothers, described COVID-19 as “the straw that broke the camel’s back” in an industry that had long been affected by mental health concerns.
“Before I recognised I had issues I thought depression was only for the weak – that it was a state of mind – I didn’t realise there was a chemical imbalance there,” he said.
Mr Windsor’s restaurant Etties, was shut due to lockdown restrictions and he said he feared for the future of other Tasmanian venues.
“I think we’re going to lose a number of other restaurants, and what impact that will have on hospitality workers’ mental health, I don’t know,” he said.
“There needs to be a safety net in place to catch people if we can.”
Tasmanian Hospitality Association president Steve Old spoke at a Parliamentary Accounts Committee inquiry alongside Mr Windsor on Wednesday, saying the worst effects of the lockdown on the hospitality sector could be yet to come.
“We’re really worried about the industry over the next two years and the welfare of operators. Many business owners have just parked the bills for the time being and pushed them back.
“I’ve talked to business owners running top professionally-run restaurants and even then I worry about their mental health,” said Mr Old.
Allocated to mental health support for small businesses is $1 million as part of the state government’s $20 million COVID-19 Small Business Sustainability and Recovery Assistance Package.
Jeremy Rockliff , Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister said the state government was providing $4 million for support of Tasmanian citizens experiencing COVID-19 related mental health issues.
“This includes $875,000 to establish a dedicated 1800 phone number called A Tasmanian Lifeline, to allow the Tasmanian community to call in and receive psychosocial support, and provide a reach out service for industries significantly impacted including identifying and reaching out to individuals who may need support, counselling or linking in with employee assistance programs,” Rockliff said.
Anyone seeking support can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Irit Jackson, 5th November 2020
