Abidjan, Douala, Lomé, Paris, July 31, 2024-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Bluemind Foundation releases a report detailing the impact on the ground of its “Heal by Hair” initiative. This acclaimed program trains hairdressers as mental health ambassadors, an innovative approach that has attracted the attention of prestigious media outlets such as the New York Times and Vogue. From Lomé to Douala to Abidjan, Heal by Hair has reached nearly 100,000 women in two years, helping to improve women’s well-being and economic empowerment.
Transformative training in Abidjan, Douala and Lomé
The quantitative and qualitative impact analyses presented in the report highlight the significant milestones achieved in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Douala (Cameroon) and Lomé (Togo) throughout 2023. While the quantitative survey continues, the qualitative data shows how Heal by Hair (HbH) has significantly improved the mental well-being of hairdressers and their clients, demonstrating the effectiveness of this innovative community-based mental health intervention.
(6 to 12 months after training)
An ambassador testifies: “For me, it was an experience that I really enjoyed and which I have fond memories of. […] The training was of very good quality and […] was enough to give us the tools we need to support our clients and ourselves. In addition, the Bluemind Foundation offered us a very explicit manual that allows us to have answers to the questions we ask ourselves.
Community engagement and proven results
Another ambassador says: “Knowing how to listen, but above all knowing what women are going through, is an experience that changes us. We no longer see clients as simple heads to be styled. […]. It becomes easier to talk to them, to make contact. They feel confident and that also helps our business, and above all they know that with me their confidences are well kept.
“Heal by Hair was more than just a training for me. It was a real eye-opener about the importance of mental health and community support.”delivers a third ambassador.
Call to action
Bluemind Foundation’s innovative Heal by Hair program is a powerful lever for access to healthcare in Africa and beyond. With continued and enhanced support, Heal by Hair will be able to reach even more communities, increasing awareness and access to mental healthcare across the African continent. Such support will bring significant benefits to communities, further improving their well-being and contributing to a healthier and more equitable future for all.
This research would not have been possible without the financial support of the Development Innovation Fund (FID), Paris Sorbonne University and Paris Saclay UniversityTheir contributions have been essential to accelerate
this vision and make significant progress in promoting community mental health and supporting the mental well-being of African women through the Heal by Hair program.
For more information or to support the Heal by Hair program, please visit the Bluemind Foundation website: www.bluemindfoundation.org
Distributed by African Media Agency pour Bluemind Foundation.
About the Bluemind Foundation
The Bluemind Foundation is an international non-governmental organization chaired by Marie-Alix de Putter, who founded it in July 2021 following the murder of her husband and her personal experience with post-traumatic stress, chronic depression and anxiety. Our consistent message is based on a strong conviction: mental health is health. With the ambition of making mental health a social, cultural and political issue, the mission of the Bluemind Foundation is to destigmatize mental health and make care accessible to all.
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Source : African Media Agency (AMA)
2024-07-31 15:00:18
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