Back in June, Katie Williams quit her waitressing job of three years for one important reason: to save her mental health. In this episode, Katie examines the many challenges facing young people working in this demanding industry. From her own experience of waking up exhausted and suffering an anxiety attack that eventually led to her making her big decision, Katie lifts the lid on this pressure-cooker industry.

She chats to chef Martin, who talks openly about his depression and his conflicted feelings towards working in the kitchen... and Alex, whose hospitality community group aims to help those feeling the strain of working in hospitality. They discuss what's going on right now across the industry and what can be done going forward to protect the mental health of employees.

If anyone is affected by the issues discussed here, please visit the BBC Action Line on Mental Health: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1NGvFrTqWChr03LrYlw2Hkk/information-and-support-mental-health

This episode was written, recorded and hosted by Katie Williams.

Original Pilot Material is a podcast for BBC Sounds from the team behind BBC The Social, the award winning new talent platform from BBC Scotland.

Live in the UK and want to pitch an idea?