Brooklyn Organization Trains Hairstylists in Mental Health Support

Arthur Ashe Institute's Mission

• 🎯 The Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, founded in 1992, aims to be boots on the ground in underserved communities.
• 💡 Their mission includes programs to overcome the stigma of mental illness and create a trusted bridge to care.

Training for Salon Professionals

• 💇‍♀️ The institute offers training in neighborhood salons and barber shops to help get care to clients in need.
• 💬 Stylists and barbers often serve as therapists for their clients due to the trust they build.
• 🤝 The institute has trained over 100 salons and barber shops, with a recent focus on about 20 in Brooklyn.

Impact on Clients and Communities

• 🌱 Clients who never believed in therapy are now more susceptible and are talking to family about it.
• 🗣️ Stylists can now offer more than just hair services, acting as a support base for clients going through difficulties.

Youth Engagement and Peer Leadership

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The Ash Institute's reach extends into schools with programs for teenagers focused on peer leadership and outreach.
• 🛠️ Workshops help teenagers develop coping strategies and mechanisms for their own mental health.
• 📣 These peer leaders are then equipped to better educate their peers on mental health, directing them to available resources like numbers to call and clinics.