Recent data shows the scale of the issue. According to a 2024 Hospitality Action survey, 76% of hospitality professionals have experienced mental health challenges during their careers, with 69% reporting issues within the last five years.
Separate research by R;pple found 59% of workers in the industry currently struggle with their mental health, while half have considered self-harm or suicidal thoughts at work.
Wellbeing and performance
Within the pub sector, operators are increasingly recognising the link between staff wellbeing and business performance.
Star Pubs provides coaching and guidance through its Just Add Talent programme to help managers support their teams, while Punch Pubs continues to promote its partnership with mental health charity People’s Captain and the Licensed Trade Charity.
Punch has also taken this further by developing an in-pub mental health first aid qualification in partnership with People’s Captain and Mental Health First Aid England, specifically designed for pub operators and their teams.
The scheme aims to equip publicans and managers with the skills to support both their staff and communities. Early pilots have shown strong engagement across the estate, with the company reporting more than a fourfold return on investment in health and wellbeing initiatives.
Elsewhere, individual venues are marking the day with fundraising and awareness drives. The Cadogan Arms in Chelsea and the George in Fitzrovia – both operated by JKS Restaurants – have partnered with Kelly’s Cause, Hospitality Action and Give Us A Shout, pledging to donate £10 from every portion of fish and chips sold today to Shout, which provides 24/7 text-based mental health support.
The emphasis on wellbeing was also echoed across the wider drinks supply chain. Wines of Great Britain, the national trade association for the English and Welsh wine industry, shared a message highlighting that “looking after our people is not just important, it’s essential.”
The organisation re-released its Safe & Respectful Workplaces Toolkit, a free, people-first resource designed to help businesses create safe, supportive and thriving environments across the UK wine sector, including those supplying pubs and hospitality venues.
Resources available
In Manchester, community initiative Two Pints Deep has launched branded beer mats across pubs and bars to encourage men to open up about their feelings and challenge male suicide statistics. The group, founded earlier this year, plans to roll out its campaign to London later this month.
Industry charities remain central to supporting pub workers year-round. The Licensed Trade Charity operates a free helpline for anyone in the trade, while Mind, Andy’s Man Club and Hospitality Action continue to provide specialist resources for those in need.
As operators face persistent cost, staffing and retention challenges, industry leaders stress that supporting mental health is not just a moral responsibility but a commercial imperative – vital to building resilient teams and sustainable businesses across the pub sector.
