Togo to Train 400 Hairdressers in Mental Health at University of Lomé

Health

Wednesday, 09 July 2025 12:18

Togo to Train 400 Hairdressers in Mental Health at University of Lomé

(Togo First) - Togo is preparing to launch a groundbreaking program linking mental health, the informal economy, and social innovation. From October 8 to 10, 2025, 400 hairdressers in Lomé will take part in an intensive mental health training at the University of Lomé (U.L) as part of the Heal by Hair initiative.

The program is led by the Bluemind Foundation, with support from the French-backed Innovation Fund for Development (FID), and developed in partnership with Togo’s Ministry of Health and the University of Lomé. The goal is to transform hair salons into places of listening, support, and referral for women experiencing emotional distress.

The approach is rooted in a powerful insight: 67% of Togolese women say they confide in their hairdresser. By building on this existing social bond, the project seeks to use salons as entry points for early mental health care.

The program also aims to empower hairdressers working in a vital part of the informal urban economy, while expanding access to first-line mental health services in local communities.

No academic background is required to apply—only strong motivation, according to the University of Lomé. Hairdressers living in Lomé, especially in the Golfe 1 to 7 and Agoè-Nyivé 1 to 4 districts, can apply online by July 15, 2025, at www.bluemindfoundation.org.

Over time, Heal by Hair aims to train 1,000 hairdressers in 20 African cities and reach up to 2 million women across the continent with improved access to mental health support.

REFORMS OVERVIEW

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