Both the COVID-19 pandemic and conversations about race happening now are shining a light on mental health. One in five adults experience mental illness each year. Only one in three Black adults who need mental health care are getting it.
The Confess Project, “America’s First Mental Health Barbershop Movement”, is a nonprofit organization that utilizes barbers across the country to connect with men of color and raise awareness about mental health.
Through a 12-month curriculum, barbers get trained on active listening, validating clients’ emotions and concerns, and how to use positive language to combat stigma around mental health.
Founder Lorenzo Lewis says the barbershop is a good place for this because it’s really the only place in the Black community, besides the church, where everyone from all socioeconomic backgrounds come. And they visit more frequently than they would their own doctor.
Source: Denver Channel/TCP
[https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/america-in-crisis/the-confess-project-trains-barbers-to-become-mental-health-advocates](https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/america-in-crisis/the-confess-project-trains-barbers-to-become-mental-health-advocates)
[https://www.theconfessproject.com](https://www.theconfessproject.com)
