Mental health training options to help beauty businesses support employees
By Rebecca Hitchon | 10 October 2022 | Feature, Health & wellbeing
Scratch highlights different coaching providers to help support employers’ understanding and management of staff mental health matters.
VTCT
Believing in an industry that recognises the importance of their workforce’s mental wellbeing, awarding and assessment organisation, the Vocational Training Charitable Trust (VTCT), added Mental Health Awareness to its range of vocational and technical qualifications in 2021.
“Throughout the two qualifications, learners will develop knowledge of how to recognise the signs and symptoms of a wide range of mental health conditions, the factors affecting mental health, and the impact of mental health from a global, individual and workplace perspective,” reveals VTCT’s head of UK sales, Kelly Huntington, who was instrumental in developing the qualifications.
“They will also establish an understanding of what constitutes good mental health and mental ill-health, as well as gain an awareness of types of support available for conditions.”
Click here to find your nearest training provider.
Low Ears
“Having always had dachshunds, I understand them and their body language tells me how they are feeling, so I knew one of my dogs wasn’t ok when her ears were low,” says Low Ears’ founder Sam Pearce, when asked about why she founded the mental health courses tailored to those in customer service industries. “She didn’t need to say anything – I just knew. Low Ears is an appreciation that sometimes the words to find how you are feeling are just too hard, and a sign or symbol can be enough.”
Created with an understanding that those in customer facing industries are expected to provide a service, free advice and a shoulder to cry on, Low Ears courses are designed to evolve to be as up-to-date and helpful as possible and can be personalised to the needs of the learner. “There is an unspoken agreement that anyone working in the customer facing sector can deal with other people’s lives and any associated information, but while the chat is all part of the service, it’s exhausting when not managed properly,” explains Sam. “Do you have the ability to protect yourself from the impact it can have on your mental wellbeing? The spaces that we create to serve our guests are proven to have a positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing, so surely you deserve the same.”
Get involved here.
Lee Pycroft
Fusing her knowledge of beauty as a renowned make-up artist with her understanding of self-care, workplace welfare and inner beauty’s importance for emotional wellbeing, Lee Pycroft’s workshops can be tailored to the needs of a company or individual, as well as delivered online or in-person.
“My recent workshops have been on workplace anxiety and seasonal affective disorder, which is a form of depression, and have been heavily applauded,” Lee tells Scratch. “I cover some basic science on what is happening in the body when people are anxious or depressed, as this helps the audience to have a clearer understanding of their physiological response, and they learn practical tools to support themselves and others. I offer a warm environment and accessible communication style that helps participants feel comfortable.”
Click here to get involved and watch our interview with Lee here.