The fight against mental health problems can be lonely, especially in an industry that demands resilience. It's a fight that our company doesn't openly discuss or support, and it can take a lot of courage to start opening up. To better understand how other people, besides me, experience mental health problems in the bar industry, I invited my colleagues to complete an anonymous survey. I had never had these conversations with my colleagues and expected a lack of interest and participation. After just a few days, more than 20 colleagues responded and encouraged me to continue.
The answers I received showed me that there are as many ways to affect people as there are people. For some, presenting a positive and friendly face is nearly impossible when their own demons consume their mental energy. Nearly all people reported that their mental health problems have a direct impact on their energy levels, creativity, and stress management and, in general, they find it difficult to perform the function expected of them. The external forces acting against us, on the other hand, tend to be shared. It was interesting to see how the struggles we faced are more similar than we thought.
Some people reported that just working in the bar industry tends to worsen their difficulties. Stress, long work hours, expectations, and alcohol and drugs can worsen or even trigger symptoms. Some reported that the pressure of having to play the role of host could sometimes be too difficult to bear. On the other hand, some reported that having to perform this role actually had a positive impact, since it forced them out of their negative spiral and led them to adopt a more positive attitude. A classic case of “fake it until you get it”.
Almost all people confirmed that they believe that there is a taboo around these topics. This is a topic that is not discussed, as waiters are expected to be at the top of their game at all times. There is no room for weakness in this industry. Ellis started designing bars because she knew from experience that everything waiters who walk, crouch and crouch do causes a lot of physical pain.
Mental health remains a taboo topic for many, but Berlin bartender Damien Guichard conducted a mental health survey among his colleagues in the bar industry. This constant motion of leaning on the bar causes pain in the lower back, says Hargrove, who has worked as a waiter for a decade. Most bars are designed by architects or designers who are generally unaware of the unique physical challenges a waiter faces.
