The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) saw a 218% increase in those asking for help in 2020, compared to the previous year.
There was a 127% increase in calls to the charity’s free helpline, with some 41% of callers asking for mental health support.
Many of those in the trade came to the charity desperate for financial support, with a high number turning to gambling, the charity said. The LTC almost doubled the amount of money provided to applicants in support grants.
The figures come as the industry prepares to mark one year since the first lockdown was announced, several days after the Prime Minister urged the public to not visit pubs and bars.
Severe impact
Carolyn Jenkinson, head of charity services at the LTC said the increase in demand for services was a “testament to the impact of the pandemic on those working in the hospitality industry.”
“Demand for our mental health and financial support has been particularly high,” she added.
“By their very nature, the majority of people who choose to work in the hospitality industry are highly social, so the impact of taking away their circle of support, has been particularly severe.
“The financial impact of lockdown has also been crippling, especially for anyone who already had multiple debts, or those with live-in roles, who have lost not just their jobs, but the roof over their heads.”
Operators shared their stories of mental health struggles amid the pandemic with The Morning Advertiser (MA) at the start of the year, with many citing financial and health worries.