MAINE, USA — The mental health program "Behind You" recently launched in Maine and will give food industry workers in the state access to free mental health counseling sessions.
Southern Smoke Foundation, a nonprofit based in Texas, is partnering with University of Maine graduate clinical students to offer food and beverage service workers 20 free counseling sessions.
Southern Smoke Foundation's Chief Mission Officer Catarina Bill said accessibility and affordability are the two biggest challenges for food industry workers to seek mental health support.
"When you're living shift to shift, not even paycheck to paycheck, there isn’t a lot of extra room," Bill said. "It's just not something you can even consider for yourself."
The program has now launched in 10 states, with goals to one day reach all 50, Bill said. Food and beverage service workers must work at least 30 hours per week and must have worked in the industry for at least six months in order to qualify.
One Portland restaurant server said a program like this could fill a large need in the industry.
"I think a lot of the people also at this level don't have health insurance, and they can't really afford the basic livings that a lot of us think that we do and can afford just because maybe a check was big this week," Deja Driscoll-Smith, a server at Three Dollar Dewey's, said. "But serving is one of those things, just because a check is $1,000 this week, it could be $200 the next just like that."
Driscoll-Smith said it could be hard for people working long hours to find the time to complete mental health sessions, which is a barrier Southern Smoke had to consider, Bill said. The program offers online telehealth sessions to give people more flexibility.
Southern Smoke wants to work with about 10-15 people in its first year operating in Maine. If the program is a success, Bill said she hopes it would expand next year to serve 60 people in Maine.