Raleigh Durham, NC, August 6, 2026 —

The Southern Smoke Foundation (SSF), in collaboration with UNC-Chapel Hill, has introduced a new initiative named “Behind You” aimed at enhancing mental healthcare accessibility for hospitality workers across North Carolina.

This program offers eligible workers up to 20 complimentary counseling sessions. The “Behind You” initiative seeks to address a notable deficit in mental health resources and support systems currently available to individuals employed in the hospitality sector.

Despite the program’s launch and its intention to provide crucial mental health services, challenges have been identified in effectively reaching all segments of the target population. Outreach efforts are reportedly facing difficulties, particularly in connecting with back-of-house staff. Furthermore, ensuring language accessibility for a diverse workforce is noted as another area requiring attention and improvement.

The program’s establishment acknowledges the demanding nature of the hospitality industry and the toll it can take on the mental well-being of its employees. By offering free counseling, SSF and UNC-Chapel Hill aim to provide a much-needed avenue for support and care.

Further details regarding eligibility criteria and how workers can access the “Behind You” program are expected to be disseminated to ensure broad awareness within the North Carolina hospitality community. The foundation and its partners are reportedly working to overcome the identified outreach and language barriers to make the services as widely available as possible.



Story summarized from the original created by Nikki Miller-Ka on indyweek.com, see more information here.

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