ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
Memories of those who’ve lost battles with mental health issues are inspiring a new initiative to help Asheville’s food and beverage workers gain access to no-cost counseling and a network of peer advocates.
The Linked4Life Foundation is teaming up with the non-profit All Souls Counseling Center for the effort, which is supported by a long list of local eateries and breweries.
Cheryl Antoncic, co-owner of Bear’s Smokehouse and the founder of the Linked4Life Foundation, said workers in the hospitality industry often have a lack of access to resources when they’re facing mental health issues.
“Absolutely there is a lack of access to care, whether it’s being uninsured or underinsured,” she said, or another barrier, like people being unable to miss pay by taking time off work.
Antoncic said she was motivated to launch the effort by seeing those close to her affected by mental health issues. When she was a teenager, she lost a sports coach to suicide. A family member also has faced severe struggles, and in 2019 a former co-worker ended his own life with suicide.
“Sean had the biggest smile, you never, ever would have thought this was something that would happen to him and his family,” she said. “It shook our entire team.”
The Linked4Life Foundation effort will kick off with an informational “lunch and learn” session from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, at the Bear’s Smokehouse, 135 Coxe Ave., Asheville. It’s titled: “Be a Mental Health Champion for the Food and Beverage Industry.” Participants are asked to register via Eventbrite HERE.
The free counseling sessions will be available to food and beverage workers from any employer with an Asheville zip code. “We’re looking to be as flexible and reach as many people as possible,” Antoncic said. It offers up to six no-cost counseling sessions for workers facing a wide range of issues, like the stress of juggling work and family responsibilities, or housing insecurity and substance abuse issues. Ongoing fundraising will determine the number of people they can serve, a spokesperson said.
They’re also building a network of mental health peer advocacy. “It is based upon the idea that having a peer group is your best means to receive help and resources, having someone that’s trusted to go to when you’re struggling,” Antoncic said.
The foundation is working with establishments throughout Asheville, hoping they will nominate workers to receive certified mental health first aid training. Once completed, they then will serve as peer advocates, sharing resources with those in need and “being that person that stands up and says mental health is important, it’s OK to talk about it,” Antoncic said.
“Our goal is there will be at least one person per establishment that serves as an advocate,” she said. “It’s not intended to take the place of a professional counselor… An advocate is really a connector back to resources and … a person on staff that a person could go to if they’re struggling.”
It’s part of a broad initiative already supported by businesses including: Asheville Pizza & Brewing, Chai Pani, Green Man Brewing/Green Man Eats!, High Wire Brewing, Wicked Weed Brewing Funkatorium and Chemist Spirits/Antidote.
The foundation is seeking additional partners. For more information, see: www.linkedforlife.org.
On July 4, the project will be rolling out a new HOPE Bus — a retired, former food truck that Bear’s Smokehouse once used to serve the community during the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s currently being redecorated to highlight messages of hope.
To symbolize the “power of connection,” the group is raising funds by selling $6 pairs of Linked4Life carabiners that can be linked, along with anonymous messages of hope, to hang inside the Hope Bus.
Editor’s note: This story was updated.