FailSafe for Life president and founder Sabrina Votava
YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICE INDUSTRY
SAFETY NET Local nonprofits team up to provide critical mental health resources to the hard-hit hospitality industry BY CHEY SCOTT
T
he coming weeks could be an incredibly dark time for hospitality industry workers, compounding what has already been a profoundly challenging year. The holiday and post-holiday season is already considered a high risk period for mental health crises and substance abuse among restaurant workers. Experts are now worried how this trend, paired with lasting, high stress caused by the pandemic and another round of layoffs as Washington restaurants cease dine-in service through at least Dec. 14, will disproportionately impact an already vulnerable population. Before Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s shutdown order issued Nov. 15, restaurant employment in the state was down about 27 percent compared to pre-pandemic figures, according to the Washington Hospitality Association. Nationally, unemployment in the food service sector
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is hovering around 38 percent based on data from the “With the current restrictions and changes, and National Restaurant Association. the likeliness of depression and anxiety and upticks of With all of these concerns front of mind, two Sposuicide, that is all hitting right about now in this area,” kane-based organizations recently teamed up to help raise says Chris Deitz, city director for Big Table Spokane. awareness and offer support. Big “When you put those two things Table, a nonprofit offering yeartogether, it becomes this combinaround aid to hospitality workers tion of heartache, of people in the SEEK HELP in crisis, and suicide prevention industry who have already been on If you are contemplating ending your nonprofit FailSafe for Life have the margins for so long figuring out life, these crisis lines are staffed 24 compiled several resources for what to do next.” hours. If you are facing an immediate restaurants, accessible at Big Unprecedented physical and emergency, call 911. Table’s website, big-table.com/ emotional isolation caused by the hope. FailSafe is also hosting pandemic as more people are stuck National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: two upcoming online workshops in their homes, both those working 1-800-273-8255; or text 741741 (both open to the general public) there or those who’ve been laid off, on how to spot signs of suicide is yet another layer of increased risk. Inland Northwest Behavioral Health in others and take action. 24/7 crisis line: 509-992-1888 ...continued on page 62