Interview with Gordon McIntyre

Interview with Gordon McIntyre, Associate Dean – Hospitality & Tourism Mental Health and the Hospitality Industry

Last year, the Caterer magazine launched a short 10-question survey asking people about their experiences of mental health in hospitality.  The survey was designed as a follow up to a month-long campaign in 2012 to raise awareness of mental health within the hospitality sector, the results of which, published in October, revealed a widespread problem within the sector and lack of resources or support to deal with it.

So what did this year’s survey results show?

A total of 713 responses were received with 59% of respondents considering themselves to have a mental health problem currently and 71% having experienced a mental health problem at some point.  51% had sought help, however 58% said their employer was not aware of their mental health problem.  This figure was 54% six years ago, so not a huge amount has changed.

There is still an issue with mental health in our hospitality industry with 70% citing that they felt there was a stigma surrounding mental health.

There is a lot of support out there, but many employers don’t know where to start and the majority of employees still feel uneasy about talking to their employer about their mental health, so many of the resources that could help to make a difference, simply aren’t being tapped into for various reasons.

Gordon McIntyre, Associate Dean of Hospitality and Tourism and the City of Glasgow College recently set up a charity, Hospitality Health, to help to address the issue of mental health within the hospitality industry by signposting employers and individuals within our industry to the right organisations for their particular circumstances.  The organisation offers support for mental health and wellbeing, gambling and drug and alcohol abuse.  Working with the charity, Hospitality Action, Hospitality Health delivers the only Employee Assistance Programme designed specifically to assist hospitality people by providing specialist, independent, confidential advice, support and assistance, whatever the problem.

We caught up with Gordon to understand more around nature of the mental health issues that exist within Scotland’s hospitality industry, why mental health struggles continue to dominate our industry and what we as employers, managers and individuals can do to bring these issues out into the open and create better understanding and support for mental health.

Why is the issue of mental health so important for our industry to address?

You have referred to the survey that the Caterer held in October, it was very concerning that they reported 59% of the respondents having a mental health problem at the moment and 71% had experienced a mental health problem at some time. It is clear that we have to do something to reduce this figure as this number is too high to be ignored.

Whilst the hospitality industry does not necessarily cause mental health issues, more than half of the survey’s respondents cited long working hours (56%), unreasonable work demands (54%) and a high-pressure working environment (53%) as having an adverse impact, all of which are characteristic of hospitality, but which can be managed.

It has also been well documented in many areas how difficult recruitment has become, both for chefs and front of house staff, even without Brexit! For me it is a no brainer, ensure you look after the staff you have as it will be very difficult to replace them in the future. The answer then is to become aware of the state of their mental health and support their wellbeing better. Retention will increase and the costs and the stress of recruiting will reduce. I am convinced that staff will stay with the employers who look after them, not move for a small increase in salary or their rate per hour.

What prompted you to start Hospitality Health Gordon?

In the summer of 2017 a good friend and the chef who had been my daughters first Head Chef, took his own life. This was just one of several people we were hearing about. Many people commented that there was nothing really out there to help and support staff through tough times.

There was great number of other anecdotal stories about what was really going on, also managers who were under real pressure from owners to get better returns on the business. It all highlighted what a stressful industry it has become.

Many staff are taking drugs to get through a shift, or drinking to excess following a busy day. Wellbeing was being talked about, but not really in the hospitality industry! Following conversations with a few people, the time seemed right to try to do something that could make a difference.

Are there specific areas of the industry that suffer more mental health issues than others?

The area that is suffering most is within the kitchen, chefs in particular appear to be affected more. We know their environment is often hot, cramped, high pressure, open to criticism, under staffed, the list goes on. It is clearly not the most conducive place for wellbeing at work! Many cope well, however several turn to drink and drugs to help get through a shift or following a tough night to wind down. We heard sadly last year Anthony Bourdain, the American celebrity chef and author, committed suicide.

Many people feel that talking about their mental health is sharing a problem of shame, so choose not to.  What happens beyond that first step of ‘talking about it that’ will give an individual confidence and reassurance that their honesty will take them down the right route for support and recovery?

There are more people coming forward and talking about mental health now than before, thanks to a few big names in industry and the press covering their stories the stigma is becoming reduced in talking about it. Several employers now have Mental Health First Aiders in the workplace, who can identify changes in behaviours and offer support an early stage.

There have also been several campaigns recently that have supported people to share and talk about their experiences, #powerofok, #hereforyou, #UOKM8? Royalty have also got behind it – Prince William and Prince Harry, have provided support to the ‘#HeadsTogether Campaign. All campaigns have all helped to raise awareness, to encourage people to start talking about their mental health.

If you could offer a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ message to someone struggling right now, what would that be?

We have several ‘Hospitality Heroes’ featured on the website, and I am sure that will grow, their message is a clear one, the journey may be a long and tough one, however it is not forever. Life is so much better without the drugs and the alcohol dependency. It is often with the support of great family and close friends that they are able to get back on track. Matt Haig has a great book, well worth a read – Reasons to stay alive, – “You are no less of a man or a woman or a human for having depression than you would be for having cancer or cardiovascular disease or a car accident. So what should we do? Talk. Listen. Encourage talking. Encourage listening. Keep adding to the conversation. Stay on the lookout for those wanting to join the conversation.”

There are now many people who have come out the other end and are open to share their experiences, which is so important for those who may be in a dark place.

For more information about Hospitality Health, please visit: http://hospitalityhealth.org.uk