03/06/2026
For years, our industry has taught chefs to be tough.
Keep your head down.
Push through the pain.
Don't complain.
Don't show emotion.
Get the job done.
But behind the white jackets, many chefs are fighting battles nobody sees.
Long hours. Stress. Burnout. Anxiety. Depression. Financial pressure. Bullying. Isolation.
The reality is that mental health struggles in hospitality are far more common than most people realise. Recent studies have found that hospitality workers experience significantly higher levels of mental health challenges than many other industries, with alarming numbers reporting thoughts of self-harm or su***de during their careers. Research has also shown that chefs face a higher risk of su***de than many other occupations.
I've been there myself.
I've experienced the dark days.
The self-doubt.
The pressure.
The feeling that you have to keep smiling while you're falling apart inside.
Enough is enough.
Being a chef does not mean being emotionless.
Being strong does not mean suffering in silence.
Asking for help does not make you weak.
If you're struggling, please talk to someone.
And if you don't have anyone to talk to, my inbox is open.
Not as a consultant.
Not as a business owner.
Not as a manager.
As a fellow chef.
Let's start looking after each other the same way we look after our teams, our guests, and our businesses.
To every chef reading this:
Check in on your colleagues.
Check in on your friends.
Check in on yourself.
And please share this post so we can keep this conversation going.
We are chefs.
We are professionals.
But above all, we are human.
