2 weeks Ago
A Suffolk barber has made the national finals of the England Business Awards after his pioneering work with his customers on mental health. Tristan Curling,one of the Barbers of Saxmundham, is more than just a barber. He has a real passion for mental health that started after he lost a friend to suicide.
He is part of a national group called the Lion Barbers who try to support and signpost their customers suffering from depression to relevant support services. Dr. John Havard from Saxmundham Health, who works closely with the barbers, said: ‘Tris is providing a really important service to the very group of patients we never see in General Practice.
He is able to use the 30 minutes he spends with customers to support and guide them in a really impactful way. We are all very proud that, having won the regional final, Tris is now into the National Final of the England Business Awards.’ Another Barber of Saxmundham is working in a similar but different way.
Nick has lost seven stone in weight through a combination of a low carbohydrate diet and time restricted eating – which really means missing breakfast. Nick attended some sessions at Saxmundham Health in the evenings to learn about diet so he is able to talk to his customers who want to lose weight and give them his real-lived experience. Dr Havard said: ‘Nick is a fantastic ambassador for weight loss because he can tell his customers what it really feels like.
GPs can advise on diets and obesity complications but Nick can tell them how it really is. He also says that he has never eaten as much as when he has been on this diet – only it is all the right food!’ Dr John Havard (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown) We understand that the Hairdressers and Beauticians of Saxmundham are the next 'public health workers' to be recruited. Dr Havard added: ‘These people are placed in the middle of our community with the capacity to really help with domestic abuse support and cervical smear uptake.
There are so many patients with terminal cervical cancer across the UK who have never had a smear. We all need to do more - but start by accepting that text and letter reminders are plainly not enough. It is up to each and every one of us to help improve the health of our nation.
Everyone has a role to play in fixing our NHS.".
