Hairdressers Are a Cut Above by Supporting Mental Health Consultation

The NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are working with local hairdressers to help get feedback on plans to revamp mental health services.

A twelve-week consultation on proposals to transform adult and older people’s services is already well under way. Now the NHS are working with more than 20 hairdressers to encourage their clients to get involved in the public consultation about improving and investing in mental health services.

Each hairdresser and beauty salon supporting the promotion of the consultation has been given mirror clings, leaflets, posters and business cards.  They’ve been asked to encourage customers to take a leaflet, click on a QR code and take part in a questionnaire to feedback on future services.

Before the pandemic, 10% of adults said they experienced some form of depression. More than a year on from the first lockdown, one in five adults has experienced depression in early 2021 – more than double pre-pandemic levels.

Gordon King, Medical Director of Leicestershire Partnership Trust,said: “Mental health and hairdressing fit together more than people might realise.  Busy people with hectic lives, feel a little more relaxed to talk about their troubles when someone is doing something for them to help them feel better about themselves. With one in four adults feeling unwell with their mental health in any given year, that means 25% of customers going to a salon that means 25% of customers going to a salon already need mental health support or may need it in the future.

“We want to make sure that people are getting the right emotional support. Feedback from this consultation is vital as it will help shape how mental health services are delivered in the future. Our consultation looks at all areas of mental health services, including urgent and emergency mental health as well as mental health support in the community.”

Jamie-Leigh Baily, owner of Meraki Hair salon on Queens Road Leicester said: “We are really pleased to be supporting the NHS with their consultation on mental health services. When you are having your hair done, people feel more relaxed and they open up about what is going on in their lives.  Mental health problems are such an issue especially with the pressures that Covid have brought, that for us it felt really important to be doing something positive to help.”

To find out more about the consultation and complete a questionnaire to share your views go to: www.greatmentalhealthllr.nhs.uk

The hairdressers and beauty salons involved include: