Mental Health Support

Caring for Mental Health in Tourism Workplaces

In today’s fast-paced, unsettled world, mental health is more important than ever—and the tourism sector is no exception. Whether it’s juggling work-life demands, facing staffing shortages, keeping pace with ever-changing technology, or tackling the constant demand to provide exceptional service, it’s no surprise that maintaining mental well-being can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. Thankfully, awareness of mental health in tourism workplaces is growing, and there are more tools and resources than ever to help teams create supportive, healthy environments.

This page is here to guide you through the essentials: understanding mental health in the workplace, signs and symptoms to be aware of (in yourself and others), strategies to manage stress, and where to find expert advice and guidance to cope with challenges in a healthy, positive way.

Whether you’re a front-line worker balancing customer interactions or a manager looking to foster a positive workplace culture, we’ve gathered practical advice and external resources to help you prioritize mental well-being. Explore the links, find what resonates with you, and take the next step toward a healthier, happier workplace.

You may also be interested in exploring Creating Mentally Healthy Workplaces, a report by Tourism HR Canada and WorkInsights that share the results of a survey of tourism employees on their workplace mental health and on the psychological safety of their workplaces, both to understand where things are currently, and also to understand the direction that the sector must take to ensure that tourism remains an employment destination of choice.

Important: if you are in immediate danger, please contact emergency services for your area.

A Mental Health Primer

The Mental Health Commission of Canada provides this graph summarizing the mental health continuum model and corresponding actions to take.

Some important takeaways:

It’s OK not to be OK. It’s normal to feel sad, stressed, confused, scared, or worried. Issues and concerns at work, at home, and in society add up. People react in different ways. Some common feelings include:

  • Overwhelmed – Feeling like there’s too much to handle or not enough time to get everything done.
  • Irritability – Getting frustrated or annoyed more easily, even by small things.
  • Fatigue – Feeling constantly tired or drained, even after a good night’s sleep.
  • Anxiety – Experiencing worry, nervousness, or unease about work, relationships, or the future.
  • Self-Doubt – Questioning your abilities, decisions, or whether you’re doing enough.
  • Disconnection – Feeling detached from others, less engaged, or unmotivated.
These responses are normal, especially when navigating life’s pressures. Acknowledging these feelings is the first step toward finding support and strategies to cope.
 

Find a way to cope that works for you. You may want to hit the gym or take a nap. You may want to chat with a friend for hours or find ten minutes of peace and quiet. Below is some general advice to help guide healthy strategies:

  • Stay socially connected, whether it’s in person, video chat, social media, or even snail mail
  • Practise mindfulness, from simple deep breaths to a guided meditation routine
  • Try to eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, and get adequate, restful sleep
  • Limit your use of substances
  • Focus on what you can control
  • Be kind to yourself and others

Seek support—anytime. While some may feel like they need to reach breaking point before seeking professional support, please know that it’s okay to reach out even if you’re just needing another perspective or have questions about healthy behaviours. The sooner you feel supported and understood, the more manageable the stress is.

Mental Health Resources

Anxiety Canada

Anxiety in Adults

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction

Youth and Emerging Adults

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)

Understanding Mental Health

Canadian Women’s Foundation

Signal for Help

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

Mental Health 101, guides and publications, and mental illness and addiction index

Ending Violence Association of Canada

Resources to prevent sexual violence and links to sexual assault centres, crisis lines, and support services across Canada

go2HR + CMHA BC

Mental Health at Work

Mental Health Commission of Canada

Workplace Mental Health

Not 9 to 5

Not 9 to 5 offers mental health resources and training for the hospitality and foodservice industries

Workplace Strategies for Mental Health

Free materials, tools, and resources to support mental health and psychological safety, including organizational and leadership strategies

Young male restaurant worker in discussion with a female sitting opposite.

Targeted Support for Employers and Managers

Employers face the stress of managing both their own mental health and that of their staff.

While managers are not—and should not be expected to be—medical experts, they need to be comfortable having discussions about mental health and recognize they will often be the first person approached when a colleague wants to raise an issue.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development recommends employers:

  • Support and guide their managers so that they feel equipped to have sensitive and supportive discussions with staff
  • Remind managers about the importance of communicating regularly with their team and asking how they are.
  • Encourage staff to practise self-care such as a healthy routine for diet, sleep, and relaxation
  • Promote their existing health and well-being benefits and support, for example signposting people to their counselling helpline.

Below we offer some resources to help managers and HR teams with supporting their staff.

Canadian Mental Health Association offers a Guide to assist Employers and Supervisors with direct-reports to their responsibilities under the Accessible Employment Standard:

McKinsey & Company has published articles highlighting employee mental health: 

The Daily expands on the various high levels of work-related stress and the negative impacts it can have on one’s health:

Spill Team lists mental health statistics and trends since the pandemic: 

Randstad details actions employers can take to make mental health a priority in the workplace:

Human Resources Director discusses ways in which HR can help relieve employee stress:

Harvard Business Review looks at leadership when the leaders themselves are drained:

Ottawa Public Health makes recommendations to support mental health for a variety of workplaces:

Make It Our Business provides guidance on how employers can help support staff subjected to domestic violence:

CEO Health & Safety Leadership Network shares a range of resources for employers, ranging from leadership behaviours to handling compassion fatigue and burnout:

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