Serving the Service Industry

The University of Houston psychology students faced a challenge when the UH clinics closed after Hurricane Harvey and during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. However, thanks to the groundbreaking assistance program provided by Southern Smoke, a crisis relief and mental health services organization, they were able to find an alternative way to accumulate their clinical hours. Surprisingly, this opportunity came from the food and beverage (F&B) industry.

Lindsey Brown, the executive director and co-founder of the Southern Smoke Foundation, played a crucial role in this situation. Before her involvement with Southern Smoke, Brown worked as a restaurant publicist, while her husband, Chris Shepherd, managed several restaurants in the area. Through her previous experiences, Brown became familiar with the operations of nonprofit organizations and actively participated in a multiple sclerosis fundraiser.

The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey further motivated her to establish the Southern Smoke Foundation and provide support to restaurant workers in need. The foundation was established in 2015 to support those in the industry affected by Hurricane Harvey and left without work and health care.

“Many of the employees have no health insurance, no PTO and no mental health care. Southern Smoke was founded to provide services to F&B workers dealing with any crisis that left them unable to make ends meet,” Brown said. “Maybe a bike was stolen so they can’t get to work, or perhaps they can’t afford doctor bills or dental work.”

When Brown’s team discovered that the clinic had also closed due to the hurricane, leaving psychology doctoral students without a way to get their clinical hours, they started brainstorming with Mental Health America of Greater Houston. The result was Behind You, a program offering mental health care specifically to F&B industry employees. This project allowed UH students to offer counseling to Southern Smoke clients while they logged crucial clinical hours.

Psychology doctoral candidates apply for counseling positions, and UH manages the selection, logistics and intake. Eligible patients receive 20 sessions or six months of therapy (whichever comes first) for free and can continue receiving service from the same counselor afterward if interested.

“There is a very high turnover rate for therapists in the food and beverage industry,” Brown said. “Yet, most people using Behind You completed their sessions. The success rate has been extremely impressive.”

According to Brown, the F&B industry provides a diverse clientele and unique circumstances for clinical practice. Through this partnership, UH students develop and enrich their counseling skills.

A similar program was established at the University of North Texas and in university clinical programs in five other states, expanding to 7 new partnerships later this year.

“We’re providing $100,000 a month in emergency relief, and by the end of 2025, we expect to reach the million-dollar mark in mental health grants,” said Brown. “This program enables clients to receive consistent, life-changing therapy services.”

With the help of UH students, the Southern Smoke Foundation sets a shining example for how we can look after the people in the food and beverage industry who have made it their life’s work to look after us.