My name is Jasmin, Chief Growth Officer for CHOW - Culinary Hospitality Outreach and Wellness. Our mission is to improve the lives of food/beverage/hospitality workers through shared stories, skills, and resources.

We believe in supporting and empowering industry workers through peer-to-peer support, education, and resource brokering. We aim to close the gap in access to mental healthcare, recovery supports and wellness for folks in our industry, in order to create a more sustainable workforce for all. 

One way we can further this mission is by advocating for more mental health representation in media that depicts our industry. Historically, our industry has been portrayed as volatile, abusive, and lacking in psychological safety. The HULU show "The Bear," which portrays food/beverage/hospitality workers, currently lacks adequate mental health support resources and trigger warnings for its viewers.

We have heard incredible feedback about the show's content and real depiction of life in the industry - including the stressors, triggers and conditions that food/beverage/hospitality workers find themselves in, every day. As a fan of the show myself, I would like to see more systems in place for industry folks who are watching and may feel they need additional support. While I recognize the show is an accurate depiction of the industry currently, there is value in recognizing the work of organizations like CHOW in creating protected spaces to talk about these experiences. 

These supports are common place and film industry practice with many other topics ranging from substance abuse to domestic abuse, and so much more. We want to create a culture of support with access for industry workers, and we urge the team creating "The Bear" to take the first step in growing that movement.

Mental health issues are prevalent within the hospitality industry. According to a study by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), hospitality has higher rates of substance use disorder than any other industry (19.1%). 86% of food/beverage/hospitality workers report feeling depressed or hopeless in their roles. These statistics highlight the need for increased awareness around mental health within our sector, without taking into consideration the complex shared, lived experience being shared on the show with equal parts accuracy and intensity. 

We urge HULU to feature mental health resources prominently within each episode's description or introduction of "The Bear." Additionally, episodes containing potentially triggering content should have clear warnings at their start.

By doing so, we can create a safer viewing experience for those who may be struggling with similar issues depicted in the show while also raising awareness about these important topics among all viewers. We can broaden the scope of our support and work together to create a more inclusive and supportive food/beverage/hospitality industry for all. 

Please sign this petition to help us advocate for better representation of mental health support in media related to our industry.

For more information about CHOW (www.chowco.org and opportunities to get involved, email community@chowco.org!