Charity offers mental health support for bartenders

Scottish on-trade charity Hospitality Health has created an Anxiety Toolkit to help bartenders struggling with their mental wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic.

L-r: Gordon Mcintyre, chair of Hospitality Health, and Craig Martin, chairman of Experience Glasgow

Designed to help hospitality workers recognise the symptoms of stress and anxiety, the toolkit was developed in partnership with Hospitality Health and tourism organisation Experience Glasgow.

The guide offers suggestions of ways workers can help themselves and their colleagues as leisure and tourism businesses adjust to operating through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Created to help operators improve the health and wellbeing of their teams, the guide offers prescriptive support for good emotional health and an understanding into the route of breaking the stress cycle and preventing any negative thoughts.

The Anxiety Toolkit also offers advice regarding health concerns, safety at work, personal protective equipment, new working practices, financial worries and dealing with the possibility of redundancies.

Gordon Mcintyre, vice chairman of Experience Glasgow and chair of Hospitality Health, said: “Going back to work may be a daunting experience, and it’s common to experience some anxiety when coping with stressful events and changes.

“Some people may recover in a few weeks on their own, while others may need additional help and support. That’s why we’ve developed a bank of resources to support our trade to adopt positive behaviours coping mechanisms surrounding any anxieties, especially around the new normal in service.

“Our collaborative toolkit is a must for anyone emotionally affected by Covid-19, who works in hospitality. Please do share with your friends and colleagues to support your teams through any periods of stress or anxiety.”

The guidance is free for anyone to download and can be found at experienceglasgow.com/anxiety-toolkit.