A metro program aims to provide mental health support for the Black community through people they may already be comfortable with. Through “Head to Heart,” barbers and stylists are trained on how to direct their clients to much-needed help.From Clippers to conversation, Daniel Goodwin knows the styling chair can be a safe place for a lot of his clients.“It’s a safe space where a lot of men feel more vulnerable and a trustworthy environment where they’re willing to share and communicate,” Goodwin said.Last fall, Goodwin learned how to take that to another level, by getting trained to be a mental health advocate. “It’s been something that’s been heavily on people’s minds, especially men, especially black men,” Goodwin said.That’s part of the reason why The Wellbeing Partners created the Head to Heart program.“This program was developed as a result of the community health needs assessment which is a metro area-wide health assessment that the Regional Health Council produces and publishes,” said Aja Anderson, CEO of The Wellbeing Partners.Anderson said the Regional Health Council consists of her organization along with health department leaders for Douglas, Sarpy, Cass and Pottawatomie counties. “When you look at the community health needs assessment data, from 2018 to 2021, we saw almost a five percent reduction in the number of people who reported that they had someone to go to at times of need or when they needed help,” Anderson said.Anderson said those numbers were even higher among Black, Hispanic and low-income populations. She hopes the Head to Heart program can make a difference, especially as it prepares to enter its second round on July 10.“Our participants are going to get trained and certified in mental health first aid, so that they’re able to recognize the signs of mental health conditions. We’re going to train them on resources as well as strategies and techniques to use as their clients are in their chair,” Anderson said.That training is an eight-hour process that ends with participants getting certified. A local behavioral health practitioner will also provide a four-hour supplemental training.”When information is given the right way, people are open to a lot of things if it’s in a manner or fashion in which they can digest it,” Goodwin said.Goodwin believes this program will reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community, through both styling and support.Anderson said The Wellbeing Partners is looking for more funding to keep this program going. You can make a donation on their website.
A metro program aims to provide mental health support for the Black community through people they may already be comfortable with. Through “Head to Heart,” barbers and stylists are trained on how to direct their clients to much-needed help.
From Clippers to conversation, Daniel Goodwin knows the styling chair can be a safe place for a lot of his clients.
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“It’s a safe space where a lot of men feel more vulnerable and a trustworthy environment where they’re willing to share and communicate,” Goodwin said.
Last fall, Goodwin learned how to take that to another level, by getting trained to be a mental health advocate.
“It’s been something that’s been heavily on people’s minds, especially men, especially black men,” Goodwin said.
That’s part of the reason why The Wellbeing Partners created the Head to Heart program.
“This program was developed as a result of the community health needs assessment which is a metro area-wide health assessment that the Regional Health Council produces and publishes,” said Aja Anderson, CEO of The Wellbeing Partners.
Anderson said the Regional Health Council consists of her organization along with health department leaders for Douglas, Sarpy, Cass and Pottawatomie counties.
“When you look at the community health needs assessment data, from 2018 to 2021, we saw almost a five percent reduction in the number of people who reported that they had someone to go to at times of need or when they needed help,” Anderson said.
Anderson said those numbers were even higher among Black, Hispanic and low-income populations. She hopes the Head to Heart program can make a difference, especially as it prepares to enter its second round on July 10.
“Our participants are going to get trained and certified in mental health first aid, so that they’re able to recognize the signs of mental health conditions. We’re going to train them on resources as well as strategies and techniques to use as their clients are in their chair,” Anderson said.
That training is an eight-hour process that ends with participants getting certified. A local behavioral health practitioner will also provide a four-hour supplemental training.
“When information is given the right way, people are open to a lot of things if it’s in a manner or fashion in which they can digest it,” Goodwin said.
Goodwin believes this program will reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community, through both styling and support.
Anderson said The Wellbeing Partners is looking for more funding to keep this program going. You can make a donation on their website.