WeHelp NOLA

WeHelp NOLA is a New Orleans–based nonprofit dedicated to providing accessible, no-cost mental healthcare to hospitality workers across the Greater New Orleans area. Founded in 2019 by longtime hospitality worker Olivia McCoy, WeHelp was created to support the people who keep our city running: servers, bartenders, cooks, dishwashers, and all those who make New Orleans hospitality possible.

Through our programs, hospitality workers receive no-cost, confidential psychotherapy sessions with a diverse network of local, licensed clinicians. We also connect clients with low-cost psychiatric care, substance use treatment, and specialized mental health services, ensuring they receive the comprehensive support they deserve.

To date, WeHelp has partnered with more than 75 hospitality venues and provided over 7,800 free therapy sessions to workers in need. More than 30 licensed clinicians actively provide services through our platform, and we continue to expand our reach each month as demand grows.

Our flagship membership program partners with hospitality venues that pay a modest monthly subscription based on staff size. This model allows entire teams to access mental healthcare at no cost to employees. However, many local restaurants and bars operate on extremely thin margins. Donations are essential to keeping these memberships affordable so that small, independent businesses can continue offering this vital benefit to their teams.

Community support is also what makes our emergency crisis counseling program possible. When disaster strikes — whether a hurricane, pandemic, or act of violence — WeHelp mobilizes quickly to provide free therapy to any hospitality worker in need, regardless of workplace affiliation. This rapid-response care is funded entirely through donations and grants, ensuring that support is available when our community needs it most.

The need is urgent. Hospitality workers experience disproportionately high rates of depression, anxiety, burnout, and substance use, often without access to traditional healthcare or employer-sponsored benefits. Many are women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who already face barriers to care. For countless workers, WeHelp is the only accessible mental health resource available.

Just $35 funds one full therapy session for a hospitality worker. One gift can mean one moment of relief, one safe space to talk, one step toward healing.

With more than two decades of industry experience, founder Olivia McCoy understands firsthand the emotional demands of hospitality work and the lack of accessible mental health resources within it. WeHelp exists to change that reality by removing barriers, reducing stigma, and ensuring that those who care for our city are cared for in return.

WeHelp is devoted to serving those who serve everyone else, and with your support, that care continues.