A Kent-based barber who once suffered from severe anxiety is organizing training for other barbers on how to identify mental health issues in their clients.
Jake Cox founded No Bad Days Barber Shop on St. Mary's Island, Chatham in 2021 after struggling with his own mental health for years.
The barber, who now works as a mental health first aid worker, said he wanted to “listen and guide people in the right direction when they seek advice.”
He hopes the one-day course, which is being run with support from mental health charity Mind, will be “the first of its kind in Kent and beyond”.
“Mind saved my life about five years ago. I was in a very dark place,” Cox said.
“Experiencing my own mental health journey has given me a deeper understanding of how to stay healthy and happy and seek help when needed.
“I want to spread that message to as many people as possible, and a barbershop is a great way to do that.”
Cox has been working as a barber for 10 years and before that worked in a special needs school.
He said: “The world would be a better place if all companies included mental health in their activities.”
A spokesperson for North Kent Mind said: “In this one-day course you will learn how to recognize the signs that someone is suffering, improve your listening skills and guide you to relevant support services.”
This course will be held at St. Mary's Community Center on June 24th.