New mental health support makes Westminster a cut above the rest

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Opening up about mental health is losing its stigma and has been given a fresh look by Westminster City Council thanks to new funding and initiatives.

Based in North Paddington, Trim Talk provides free mental health training for barbers so their shops will become safe spaces for young men to talk about their feelings and emotions. Launched earlier this year, there are a number of shops who have already completed the training and know how to spot the signs of someone struggling with their mental health.

Thanks to funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), barbers have been trained to facilitate conversations about mental health and make customers feel comfortable about speaking up and tackling issues such as loneliness or feeling as if they are suffering in silence. The training offers a thorough understanding of the factors affecting mental health and equips participants with the skills to identify, support, and direct someone experiencing mental health issues. It also enhances conversation and listening skills, building confidence to offer support even in crisis situations.

Westminster City Council is further strengthening its support for mental health services with an easy to access wellbeing hub that offers a simpler experience with all the council’s resources available in one place.

With one in four adults in Westminster admitting to feeling anxious and with services reporting an increase in demand for support since the pandemic, the wellbeing hub gives residents free or low-cost mental health and emotional wellbeing support in Westminster alongside some UK-wide services.

Adam Hyland, owner of Raisa's Barbers on Harrow Road is proud to pioneer the trim talk scheme:

We are thrilled to support Trim Talk. Our colleagues, customers and communities deserve a psychological safe space where they can ‘open up' and we are proud to champion this mental health campaign with Westminster City Council. When we say any style, any time, any one we live it and breathe it.”

Cllr Cara Sanquest, Westminster City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities added:

I hope customers who use the service will find it beneficial and use it is as an opportunity to start the change dial on misconceptions around men’s mental health. I would also encourage other shops or owners in the North Paddington area to get involved so we can create a real community of men taking positive action towards their mental health.”

On the council’s new approach to mental health, Cllr Nafsika Butler-Thalassis, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Voluntary Sector said:

There is a lot of stigma attached to sharing personal difficulties or being open about your mental health. This project supports the view that mental health is everyone’s business and that we can all be trained to provide support. We want to create a community where people can seek help easily and where they know they will be treated with sympathy and kindness wherever they seek help.”