Barbers to be mental health trained in Derbyshire
Hairdressers and barbers will be able to access a free online event so they can talk to clients about their wellbeing
Last updated 21st Sep 2021
People going for a haircut in Derbyshire might be walking with a weight off their shoulders, as well as their hairdo's in the months to come.
Derbyshire County Council has partnered with The Lions Barbers Collective to train local barbers and hairdressers to talk to clients about mental health.
The event is accessible to anyone working in the sector in Derbyshire apart from the city of Derby.
The goal is to get more communities talking about what is affecting them, and be able to connect with someone who is removed from their daily life.
Tom Chapman is the CEO of the charity and started the movement after a close friend passed away from suicide. He is hoping that the more people open up about their struggles; the more support they will be able to get.
The first free four-hour training session for stylists and beauticians based in Derbyshire will take place on Zoom. People can booking through Eventbrite, on Monday 4 October, with five more to also be scheduled.
As sometimes when people are mental health challenges, they feel unable to reach out, Chapman's focus for the chrity is to hone in on the community's responsibility, and create more support networks in as many areas as possible. He said:
"We need all the eyes and ears of the community to look after each other, so the smallest but also biggest thing you can do is let people know it's a safe space. People can talk to you. You're not going to judge them. You're not going to tell them what to do. You're not going to tell them they're right or wrong. You're just going to listen and be there for them."
How the hairdressing sector can make an impact
Derbyshire County Council has acknowledged that these kind of conversations already happening on a regular basis, as they noted in a press release:
"It’s recognised that customers can often open up to hair stylists about their feelings and state of mind when they might not want to confide in family, friends or colleagues."
Chapman who trained as a barber initially also said that there are frequently have opportunities where they can have a meaningful conversations due to the nature of the work. He said:
"I very quickly realised that hairdressers, barbers and beauticians have a very privileged space in societies and communities where we have license to touch, good skills like listening and we're almost like a familiar stranger. We see people regularly but we're not in their social circle, and people open up to us."
The element of detachment is what is central to the message being spread in through the charity, and following the impact of coronavirus, may be more important than ever as people seek and emotional outlet. Chapman added:
"I think we still see mental health as something that is a diagnosable term... but actually like our physical health, we all have mental health. We all have good days, bad days; we all suffer loss. We all need to love and be loved."
Push on men's wellbeing
There is also a key focus on enabling men to open up about their feelings. Chapman said:
"Men have got very good at pretending to be ok, and I think that's probably a global thing. Now when we're encouraging men to open up, the next thing we need to do is be able to react and respond well so they don't shut back down again."