PRESS RELEASE: New frontline mental health video targets hairdressers and salon staff

April 12th, 2021
A ground-breaking mental health initiative targeting hair and beauty salon workers across Australia has launched today. Based on the effective ‘Recognise, Respond, Refer’ model, the new Psych4Salons video resource equips frontline hair and beauty workers with a basic understanding of how to talk to someone who is experiencing an emotional crisis, domestic abuse or suicidal thoughts.
According to former hairdresser and Psych4Salons co-founder, Annie Boulton, hairdressers and beauty salon staff are often the first people to hear about crisis and/or trauma situations in people’s lives. “Most clients share their celebrations, griefs, and fears with their hairdresser as if they were a family member, and salon staff are often the first ones to recognise changes in the mood and behaviour of their clients. Unfortunately, many people don’t actively seek help when they need it and most salon staff have not been taught the basics in how to respond to people in emotional crisis” she said.
Being better resourced in basic early intervention skills means that salon workers can quite literally save a life by following a simple 4-part conversation guide that lets clients know that they have been heard and understood. As Psych4Salons co-founder Trevor Boulton notes; “Many salon staff worry that they may have said the wrong thing. This video teaches salon workers that there is no need to offer advice or opinions. What is really needed is a basic ability to do four things:
1. Rephrase to clarify what they said
2. Ask “What’s that like for you?”
3. Validate “I can understand why you would feel like that”
4. Explore their mixed feelings and suggest a referral source.
The psych4salons video is not presented as a therapeutic tool, but rather as a way to recognise, respond and refer when a person is in crisis. There is no cost involved and training can be completed in under one hour.
In addition to potentially saving a client or co-workers life, this resource can go a long way to reducing workplace stress and emotional overload. As our population continues to struggle with the implications of the COVID-19 crisis, nationwide calls to services such as Lifeline, Kids Help Line and Beyond Blue are still increasing. Equipping salon staff with the skills to recognise, respond and refer means that they don’t need to individually carry the burden of the information that clients may disclose to them. This makes for a safer and happier workplace and improves the wellbeing of salon staff and their clients.
The video can be found here: www.psych4salons.com.au/ and here: https://www.brainhealtheducation.com.au/community/salons.html

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Psych4Salons is an initiative of the Brain Health Education Institute. For further information, please contact Trevor and Annie Boulton on 0417 90 6000 or [email protected]
http://www.brainhealtheducation.com.au/