A Kent barber who once suffered from severe anxiety expressed his delight at the enthusiastic response to a mental health training session he organized for fellow barbers to help them identify mental health issues in their clients.
Jake Cox, who established No Bad Days, an external barber shop in Chatham in 2021, after years of battling anxiety, has been overwhelmed by the positive reception to his initiative. The free training session, scheduled for Monday on St. Mary’s Island, is fully booked with 20 participants, prompting Cox to consider organizing additional sessions.
Jessica Silver from North Kent Mind, who assisted in organizing the event, described it as a “unique and innovative opportunity to work closely with our community.”
“I’ve had tattooists and hairdressers approach me about running similar courses for them,” Cox said. “The initial idea was to test the waters with this session, and hopefully, we can expand it further.”
Cox aims to empower barbers with the confidence to handle sensitive topics without hesitation. “I would love to assemble a team and take this nationwide. I’m confident the demand exists,” he added.
Among the attendees is Can Ozdamar, who operates Can Cuts in Farnborough. “Barbers often joke that we’re like therapists for our clients,” Ozdamar said. “It would be incredibly beneficial to enhance my skills in identifying mental health problems and learn what signs to look for.”
Silver emphasized the importance of the training, saying, “By working with Jake, we have created bespoke training designed to support barbers, providing an environment where men might feel more comfortable discussing their struggles.”
The success of this initial session reflects a growing recognition of the crucial role barbers can play in supporting mental health within the community.
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