Jo Holden and team at Your Hair Hub, Ramsgate
Sign up to become a Wellbeing Ambassador
If you work in a barbershop, salon, tattoo parlour or nailbar in Thanet or the Canterbury district then East Kent Mind wants you to sign up to join its Wellbeing Ambassador Project.
The one thing all these commercial premises have in common is that a large slice of their customers visit them regularly. This means with a little bit of training staff in these outlets can provide wellbeing support to their customers.
East Kent Mind can provide free training and support to staff to enable them to spot signs of anxiety in customers, be non-judgemental listeners and able to signpost a customer on to help should they need it.
Simon Wiseman of Wiseman Barbers
In the Ramsgate area the project is funded by Ramsgate Town Council, the project has successfully been working with a small group of barbers and stylists as part of its initiative supporting men and women with poor mental health.
The project originally started following research that revealed men are statistically more likely to discuss mental health issues with their barber than with their GP. This places barbers in a unique position to be able to help men battle anxiety and depression.
Following the success of the pilot, East Kent Mind has identified hair salons, nail bars and tattoo parlours as locations where individuals also tend to be loyal patrons, and the relationship between a staff member and customer can assist with wellbeing.
All these commercial settings have a high follow-up rate with clients providing opportunities to spot changes in mood or extremes, such as too much sleep or not enough sleep, losing weight or gaining weight.
The project’s training will help staff to recognise these signs and to ask clients how they are feeling, be a good listener and be briefed where to encourage customers to go for help. Clients identified as in need are given an information leaflet with details of East Kent Mind support plus other providers.
Contact us:
East Kent barbers, salons, nail bars and tattoo parlours wanting to join the project should email us at: ambassador@eastkentmind.org.uk
Individuals aiming to fundraise for East Kent Mind to help expand the project should email: simondolby@eastkentmind.org.uk
