Bluemind Foundation Launches 2nd Edition of Mental Health Training

By Cami Ezenwa

The Bluemind Foundation has begun a two day Mental Health training under the theme “Heal by Hair” for 150 professional hairdressers at Pullman Hotel Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The mental health training which runs January 30 to February 1, 2023, is in collaboration with the National Mental Health Program (PNSM) – Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage of Côte d’Ivoire.

Sponsored by Nasseneba Toure, the Ivorian Minister of Women, Family, and Children, the Heal by Hair aims at training and certifying selected 150 professional hairdressers to become mental health ambassadors.

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A release sent to The Eagle on the training, indicates that the 150 participants of the second session of Heal by Hair were selected from 989 applications from professionals and self-taught practitioners.

The selection was a jury composed of members of the Scientific Council (SC) and the Stakeholder Council (SC) of the Bluemind Foundation.

Her Excellency, Nasseneba Toure, the Ivorian Minister of Women, Family, and Children, sponsor of the programme

The hairdressers for this second edition of the prgramme, the release informed, are owners or managers of hair salons of at least two years of experience, and were selected from the Abidjan communes of Abobo, Cocody, and Yopougon.

“For three (3) days, the 150 participants will be trained in the basics of mental health and psychological first aid.

“The training is customised, both personalised and collective. They will benefit from theoretical and historical immersion, practical group workshops, well-being and psychological support sessions, leadership coaching, and meetings with inspiring personalities”, the release said.

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On the pedagogical objectives of the mental health training, the organisers said it is to provide hairdresser ambassadors with a more in-depth knowledge of mental health disorders, to give them a method and tools to observe the first manifestations of mental disorders or the aggravation of existing conditions, to develop interpersonal and active listening skills; and, if necessary, to be able to refer people to experts.

“The Heal by Hair training has had a huge and positive impact on my life and how I work. My clients’ secrets are better kept. I help others better: when a client explains her situation to me,

“I can listen more attentively, observe her, to guide her usefully, and it is generally a relief. I also have more clients now”, confided Mrs. Minata Silué épouse Sorho, delegate of the inaugural promotion of Heal by Hair mental health ambassadors.

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The release added that experts in mental health and leadership give the Heal by Hair training.

illustration courtesy of verywellhealth

According to it, these Ivorian, pan-African,  and international psychiatrists and experts are all convinced that mental health needs to be  looked at differently and that with a short training in psychological first aid, first-level  responders can help make a lasting impact on the ground.

The trainers include, Ms. Chrissy Kuoh, therapist and coordinator of the Scientific Advisory Board of Bluemind  Foundation; Dr. Sonia Kanékatoua, psychiatrist, CHU campus and Centre for Integrated Addiction  Care of Kodjoviakopé (Lomé – Togo) and Dr. Christian Eyoum, psychiatrist, head of the psychiatry department at Laquintinie Hospital  (Douala – Cameroon) – member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Bluemind Foundation amongst others.