ASHEVILLE – The Linked4Life Foundation is launching a wide-ranging program that includes establishing a peer network for mental health resources and providing no-cost counseling sessions for Asheville food and beverage workers. 

The effort aims to help as many local food and beverage workers as the Foundation can - people who may be dealing with anything from housing insecurity to substance abuse to juggling work and family responsibilities. The goal is to provide up to six counseling sessions at no cost for each worker in need of mental health service.   

Linked4Life’s partner for the initiative is All Souls Counseling Center, a local non-profit that provides sliding-scale mental health counseling services to adults in Western North Carolina. 

The effort is part of a broad initiative supported by a number of food and beverage establishments in Asheville, who are banding together to help the industry’s local workers. Current supporters include Asheville Pizza & Brewing, Chai Pani, Green Man Brewing/Green Man Eats!, Hi-Wire Brewing, Wicked Weed Brewing Funkatorium, and Chemist Spirits/Antidote. Linked4Life is also seeking additional supporters, particularly from the food and beverage industry.

Linked4Life will also be working with the local food and beverage partners to establish peer networks for mental health resources. These programs help organizations improve the well-being of their members or employees, as they become leaders in breaking the stigma of mental health. 

Driving this effort with the Foundation will be Dr.  Laura K.  Jones, who runs a mental well-being consulting practice called MindWell Consulting, LLC. In 2022, Jones led the development of a successful mental health peer network program for student-athletes in UNC Asheville’s Athletics Department. She regularly works with local and state organizations to develop programs and cultures supportive of mental health, holistic well-being, and performance.  

​The Foundation will hold an informational session about the initiative, “Be a Mental Health Champion for the Food and Beverage Industry,” for potential partners and supporters on Tuesday, June 25 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the Bear’s Smokehouse location at 135 Coxe Avenue.  

To kick off the initiative, the Foundation will open its new HOPE Bus on July 4. The HOPE Bus is a reimagined former food truck at Bear’s Smokehouse, in the heart of the South Slope district. It will be a place for people to share messages of hope and demonstrate their commitment to breaking the stigma of mental health. 

To register for the June 25 informational session, click here. If potential partners or supporters can’t attend the informational session, they are encouraged to visit the Foundation’s website for more information and complete a form about how they’d like to get involved or show support.