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Black barbers in Jackson receive mental health training

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Photo Gallery: Black barbers receive mental health training

Barbershops are central hubs for Black communities: a safe haven where people can embrace their community, discuss societal change, economic problems, share ideas and confide in others.  

The unique position of barbers is why The Confess Project, which seeks to encourage dialogue about the mental and emotional health of Black , trains barbers across the South and Midwest to become mental health advocates.

Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than white adults to persistent symptoms of emotional distress, according to the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. Black, Hispanic/Latino and multiracial youth had the highest risk of suicide, according to a July 2022 report by JAMA, an open access medical journal published by the American Medical Association.

During the training at Jackson Convention Complex, experts discussed how to approach a client when he expresses issues related to mental health and how to recognize warning signs of mental illness. Experts talked to the barbers about how to respond if a client is suicidal and what resources to provide.

Barber Michael Johnson, who works at Traxler’s School of Hair in Jackson and owns MJ’s Blazzin’ Fades, attended the local training.

โ€œIt made me see where I fit into the solution because I in contact with a lot of people when I’m cutting hair,โ€ said Johnson. โ€œIt taught me how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness. It also allowed me to step outside of myself and pay attention to others and see where I can help.โ€

Barber Michael Johnson, 50, waits for clients outside of Traxler’s School of Hair in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2022.

Barbers and hair stylists often act as de facto therapists, he said. They hear intimate details of their clients’ lives and problems while behind the chair.

โ€œPeople come here and open up, and some of them can cry out without opening their mouths,โ€ Johnson said. “Some people learn to cope, but they never got over their trauma. I try to voice anything that I can do to help the situation and be careful to not judge.โ€

BROTHERS Barbershop Initiative is also tackling physical health by installing blood pressure machines in barbershops and teaching barbers how to perform blood pressure screenings and to recognize any blood pressure-related signs and symptoms in clients.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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Mississippi News

Dollar General vehicle theft leads to two arrests in Tupelo

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www.wcbi.com – Aundrea Self – 2024-11-04 16:10:00

SUMMARY: In , Mississippi, 19-year-old Joshua James and a juvenile face charges related to a pursuit and the of a police car. James is charged with Directing a Felony to Be Committed by a Person Under Seventeen, Grand Larceny, and Felony Fleeing, with a bond set at $100,000. The incident began on November 1 when police responded to a of a stolen vehicle. After a chase that ended when the stolen truck crashed south of Verona, James was apprehended, while his juvenile passenger fled in a police car, which was later found wrecked. The juvenile’s case will be handled in Youth Court.

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Categories: Crime, Local News


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Mississippi News

Lowndes Co. Supervisors talk storm safety for certain areas

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www.wcbi.com – Marcus Hunter – 2024-11-04 15:59:00

SUMMARY: The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors has secured to construct storm shelters in Crawford, Artesia, and Plum Grove, lacking local shelter during severe weather. Each community will four FEMA-funded shelters, accommodating up to 20 people each, on property at a total cost of $103,692, with FEMA contributing $93,000. The supervisors anticipate these shelters will significantly enhance safety for during storms. Vice President Jeff Smith highlighted their importance, expressing relief for community members who have long awaited a secure refuge. While installation timelines remain unclear, the is expected to proceed soon.

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News anchor dropped after social media post telling Trump-haters supporting Harris: ‘Stay home, donโ€™t vote’

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www.foxnews.com – – 2024-11-04 11:51:00

SUMMARY: David “Dave” Elliott, a local anchor for in for nearly 40 years, was fired after expressing political views on social . He revealed on Facebook that his termination was due to his political opinions, specifically mentioning a where he advised people not to vote out of hatred for Donald Trump. Elliott characterized his social media posts as satire, distinguishing them from his professional work. He noted that the discussion with his station’s general about his dismissal was brief, and the topic of social media was raised. WLOX’s management declined to comment on the matter.

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