How Barbers Are Encouraging Men to Open Up About Mental Health Issues

Lorenzo Lewis, founder of The Confess Project, highlights the stigma surrounding mental health in communities of color. He shares his personal journey and how barbershops serve as safe spaces for young men to discuss mental health. The project trains barbers to be mental health advocates, equipping them with skills like active listening and communication. The initiative has expanded to multiple U.S. cities, aiming to create leaders and sustain community support.

What inspired Lorenzo Lewis to start the Confess Project?

• His experience with mental health professionals

• A documentary he watched

• His childhood visits to a beauty salon

• A book he read about mental health

What is the primary goal of the Confess Project when training barbers?

• To help them open their own barbershops

• To train them as mental health advocates

• To teach them advanced hair styling techniques

• To make them mental health experts

Which skill is NOT mentioned as part of the training for barbers in the Confess Project?

• Active listening

• Communication

• Validation

• Judgmental analysis

How many U.S. cities has the Confess Project expanded to?

• Five

• Seven

• Nine

• Eleven

What is emphasized as crucial for sustaining the momentum of the Confess Project?

• Publishing research papers

• Building more barbershops

• Creating leaders within the community

• Increasing funding