Salons and barbers supporting positive mental wellbeing
GOING to a hairdressers or barbers is, for many people, a hugely social experience when hair is being cut as there is plenty of chatting and cups of tea to be had.
Last year a novel fund-raiser was held in Kanturk whereby various hairdressers and barbers got together to fund-raise for the aptly named, ‘Cut and Grow,’ in aid of the mental health charity.
This year that number has ballooned to 50 and it’s largely thanks to the Trojan work of a Duhallow woman, Noreen Murphy O’Sullivan, who is a Newmarket native. The Cut and Grow events will be held from Tuesday, March 12, for one week until Tuesday, March 19 and the 50 businesses taking part will be distributing leaflets on the services which Grow provide locally. Of course, any donations on the day will go directly to Grow.
The entire aim is to raise mental health awareness and Cork county organiser, Noreen Murphy O’Sullivan, outlines how Grow is a 12 step programme which provides mutual help and support to any person living with any emotional stress or mental health issues in their lives. There are over 120 groups in the country which meet on a weekly basis and this year Grow will mark five decades in operation.
Noreen said that the Grow meetings are “relaxed, friendly and totally confidential” and that nobody needs a referral, they can just come along and are free to attend.
The entire ethos of Grow is about breaking isolation and fostering social connectedness, Noreen explained.
“A visit to a salon or barbers is a social experience where people often discuss many subjects in their lives. We hope that during that week of March that this event will encourage people to discuss mental health and mental health awareness. A salon or barbers is an ideal relaxed setting to show what Grow has to offer to people experiencing difficulties.”
Noreen thanked all the businesses who have signed up and said she received a fantastic response from so many hairdressing and barbers in Duhallow and in Mallow when she approached them.
Salons and barbers confirmed to date include Sophisticuts, Cool Locks, The Look, Uptown Girl and Noreen Hartnett’s in Newmarket. In Kanturk, Fiona’s Hair Design, Breeda’s Hair Salon, Deedas, The Haven and The Welcome Barber. In Millstreet, Euro Styles, Guys & Dolls, Razor Sharp Barber and Gilded Scissors. In Mallow, Stunners, Lorenzo, Belle Hair, Flairs, Dee Barbers and Debbies. In Macroom, Trendy Hair, Dorota Turkish Barber, Mary Lynch and Star Turkish Barber.