Mind Matters
Giving kitchen is here to educate, advocate, inspire, and uplift when it comes to the mental and emotional well-being of food service workers. Explore and review the following stability network resources to help you on your journey to optimal mental health.
Curious About Your Mental Health?
Take a quick, free, and anonymous online survey that can help you learn about YOU!
If you’re curious about your own mind, your own emotional health, your own mental well-being, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. We partner with Mental Health America to provide you with the first step in the journey to learning about your mental health and how to best care for your mind.
Been feeling anxious lately? Take the anxiety test. Feel like your brain is playing tricks on you? Take the psychosis & schizophrenia test. There are 12 tests you can explore, depending on what makes sense for YOU. Once you complete the assessment, Mental Health America will provide your results, along with some resources to pursue a formal diagnosis and treatment.
Disclaimer: These assessments are not a diagnostic tool. If you believe that you may be dealing with an acute mental health issue or are a danger to yourself or others, please call 988 or visit your nearest emergency room.
Free Mental Health Resources
BetterHelp — GK has partnered with BetterHelp to offer 1 month / up to 4 free sessions of therapy for food service workers at NO cost to you. To gain access, click here and enter your email address. GK's point of contact will then register your email address within 2 business days and you should receive an email with next steps, as well as an access code; please note, BetterHelp will request a debit/credit card at the end of your survey but will not charge you until after 1 month of services has passed.
Culinary Hospitality Outreach Wellness (CHOW) — CHOW hosts multiple virtual group discussions weekly – available to chefs, servers, bussers, bartenders, owners, suppliers, farmers, writers, dishwashers, and industry veterans. CHOW has an “EXPO” (who is a person who has walked the path of recovery from mental illness/substance use disorder and is trained to assist others in their recovery) in each meeting who can guide the conversation. Sharing is voluntary and sobriety is not required.
Behind You (SSF) — Southern Smoke Foundation's mental health program, Behind You, provides no-cost mental health counseling for food and beverage workers and their families in California, Illinois, Louisiana, New York, and Texas. Those who live outside of the service states can apply for financial assistance for mental health crises through SSF's Emergency Relief Fund.
Affordable Mental Health Resources
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective — This nonprofit serves clients who are uninsured or underinsured across the US. They require a $65 membership fee (once in a lifetime) and then offer sessions with a therapist of your choosing for $40-$70 a session. Sessions can be held in person or online. This resource is for anyone that has an annual household income of less than $100,000.
Trek Health — Our friends at Trek Health have partnered with Teledoc to provide you with unlimited access to mental health (and psychiatry) for only $12.50 a month for your entire household. You don’t have to have insurance or prove citizenship; you just have to have an email address and a debit or credit card number. You can cancel at any time, and bonus, virtual general medicine is included!
Substance Misuse Resources
SARI — Any food service worker in who undergoes inpatient treatment for substance abuse is eligible to apply for financial assistance from Giving Kitchen. Awards will pay for living expenses based on financial need and in coordination with a formal diagnosis and completed time in treatment. Get started by filling out the Ask For Help form here.
Ben’s Friends — A support group for members of the food and beverage industry experiencing substance and alcohol abuse, with the mission to help food service workers reach and maintain sobriety. They host daily meetings via Zoom, and have Men Only, Women Only, and Late Night / After Dark meetings a few times a week.
Resources to Help Others With Their Mental Health
What is QPR? with Brian Quinnett of QPR Institute
QPR — Free suicide prevention ‘Gatekeeper’ training provided to food service workers. QPR, the CPR of suicide prevention training, is a one hour ‘GateKeeper’ training prepares you to support a friend, family member, or teammate who is contemplating suicide.
Mind Matters Panelist Videoes & Resources
Thank You to Our 2024 Annual Corporate Partners
