Burnt Chef Project launches text-based mental health support service

The Burnt Chef Project has launched a free text-based mental health support service for the hospitality industry.

The service is free and confidential for anyone within hospitality to talk about their mental health.

To use the service, people can text BURNTCHEF to 85258 for free at any time of day and a trained volunteer will aim to respond within five minutes.

The Get Active Lockdown Challenge launched by the Burnt Chef Project in January saw 80 individuals from around the country join to raise awareness for mental health by covering 7000km on a virtual tour around 50 Michelin-starred restaurants. The event was supported by the likes of Sat Bains, Paul Ainsworth, JP McMahon and Tom Kerridge and raised almost £3,000 towards the service.

Founder of the Burnt Chef Project, Kris Hall, said: “We have teamed up with Mental Health Innovations who operate the phenomenally successful SHOUT service, which has resulted in us being able to provide dedicated support for all types of mental health challenges, taking people who are struggling to cope to a place of calm every single day of the week.

“The service will be manned by real people who are dedicated volunteers all around the UK and overseen by full-time clinical supervisors.

“Whether you are a general manager, head chef, housekeeper, student, fishmonger, cleaner, waiting staff or bar person this service is here for you. Totally free and confidential whenever you need it.

“Thank you to all those that took part in the original Get Active Lockdown Challenge, which we officially completed in just 12 days, and to those who have now taken the gauntlet on a stage further and are continuing the challenge on our behalf to raise additional funds for this much needed service. Without the generous ongoing donations from both businesses and individuals in the industry we would not be able to continue our ongoing work and market leading innovations.

“This support service is here for any individual whenever it is needed. If you feel anxious or stressed, isolated, lonely or grieving, suffering from substance misuse or perhaps you have experienced bullying, depression or sadness, or have relationship worries as well as self-harm and suicidal thoughts then please use this service.

“I would ask all managers and business owners to distribute this number throughout their teams as soon as possible to make use of this critical service.”

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