It's not uncommon for barbers, cosmetologists and stylists to be the ones who share in tough conversations with their clients while they're sitting in their chairs each appointment. In order to best equip these professionals to recognize and respond to mental health challenges they may see in their clients, the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan's be nice. program is hosting their second "Care Beyond the Chair" free training event on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at Calvin University.
The program proudly hosted its first "Care Beyond the Chair" event recently on April 14, 2025, bringing together stylists, barbers and other cosmetology professionals to focus on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. The event underscored the vital role that beauty and grooming professionals play in recognizing and responding to mental health challenges among their clients. It also provided attendees with knowledge and strategies to identify signs of mental distress and foster supportive conversations within their professional environments.
"We know that being a cosmetologist or barber can be a demanding job," said Christy Buck, CEO and Founder of be nice. "Our goal with 'Care Beyond the Chair' is to provide practical tools to help navigate the tough conversations that already naturally come up behind the chair—supporting both clients and professionals."
Attendees to the program's first event shared more about the experience.
"One takeaway I had from the training was the patience strategies around listening to someone going through something, instead of butting in and telling them where they're going wrong," said Tony Cuevas from The Gentleman's Touch in Wyoming. "be nice. guided us on how to pass on information politely and not seem intrusive—that really stood out to me. The training today did a wonderful job introducing mental health and the importance of helping others in the community. I'm looking forward to working more with be nice."
Those who missed the first event can take part in the next "Care Beyond the Chair" training on Wednesday, April 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Calvin University's Willow Room, located at 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI. This free training is open to all barbershop and salon professionals and will provide tools to recognize mental health warning signs, engage in supportive conversations, and their own well-being behind the chair.
"The energy and commitment at the event were truly inspiring," added Buck. "It's clear that when we equip our community with the right resources, we can make real progress in mental health awareness and suicide prevention."
Space for the second event is limited, so register now.
Courtesy of West Michigan Woman.
Photo courtesy of be nice.
