HAIR and beauty professionals in the district are being offered free mental health training to help customers open up.

Hairdressers, barbers and beauticians are often a trusted ear to their customers.

This is why Maldon District Council have organised the Lions Barber Collective to deliver their BarberTalk and Hair and BeautyTalk course in the district.

Richard Siddall, leader designate of the district council said: “We are proud to be the first council in Essex to work with the Lions Barber Collective as part of our ongoing approach to support the mental health of residents.

"Barbers, hairdressers and beauty professionals build relationships with their customers, which in turn often allows the customer to open up about feelings which they might not want to discuss with family, friends or colleagues."

The course is open to all barbers, hairdressers and beauticians based in the Maldon district.

Tom Chapman, founder and CEO of the Lions Barber Collective, said: "Mental health affects us all and the pandemic has made that worse in many cases. 

"72 per cent of those who die by suicide have had no contact with mental health services in the 12 months before they die, yet they have probably had a haircut or beauty treatment.

"This is why I am so happy to be working with the team at Maldon District Council to help train hair and beauty pros to have safe communications around mental health and potentially save lives by reaching the unreachable.”

The course is available via Zoom on Monday, January 31 2022.

To sign up visit bit.ly/3DbOAzT.