85% of hospitality professionals report mental health symptoms over the past year and over a third of those (36%) seek better access to mental health services.

In October 2024, around 450 operators were questioned by the ASSC in an online survey as it continues to gather evidence around the impact of STL regulations.

Around one-in-ten (11%) respondents said they had experienced no mental health issues as a consequence of regulatory changes. Incredibly, this figure drops to 0% in Edinburgh where the most stringent STL controls can be found.

The overwhelming sentiment is that the regulations have created financial strain, as well as increased anxiety and uncertainty, with sectoral discontent abundantly clear.

In terms of the key findings:

• Across Scotland, over two-thirds (68%) had either experienced a ‘negative’ or ‘extremely negative’ impact on their mental health and wellbeing from recent regulatory changes;
• This was particularly acute in Edinburgh where around 90% of operators had seen a negative or extremely negative impact;
• Edinburgh also had the highest number of extremely negative responses (46%);
• Nearly two-thirds (63%) of operators in the Highlands saw their mental health impacted; and
• The equivalent figures for those in Perth and Kinross was 56% and in Argyll and Bute it was 72%.

The past few years have impacted everyone in one way or another and that’s what makes it so extraordinary. Rarely do we live through something that has such a major impact on us.  This has come in the form of Covid as well as recent and ongoing Regulatory changes.

Whilst we may look to carry on as normal, it is important to check in with ourselves regularly and reflect on how others are feeling – this includes colleagues, employees, guests, family and friends.  As a society we are generally very used to trying to move on from uncomfortable emotions, going into problem solving mode or trying to ignore the feeling entirely.

Please download the full ‘Guidance Sheet’ below which includes tips on how to support and ‘Look After Yourself’ when you are feeling stressed and anxious…

Author of Guidance: Hospitality Health

Date of Guidance: October 2024
Version Number: V1

Disclaimer – Guidance Sheets are written by experienced Members of the ASSC and other experts. The information in the ‘Guidance Sheet’ is provided by the ASSC for use by Members in support of their own independent business decisions. It does not constitute advice or instruction for which the ASSC can be held liable in any way whatsoever. All Members and other readers remain responsible for the consequences of any decisions taken whether in the light of information gained from this Guidance Sheet or not.