“Flipping the Barbershop” event held to destigmatize mental health in communities of color

Breaking the stigma around mental health was the focus of a special event held Thursday night at Cape Fear Community College.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Breaking the stigma around mental health was the focus of a special event held Thursday night at Cape Fear Community College.

Four black men who are active in the community came together to have a public discussion about religion, mental health, grief and more for the ‘Flipping the Barbershop’ event hosted by Healing Your Almond. Essentially, opening up the barbershop for people to see the conversations going on there and removing the stigma of being vulnerable and having difficult conversations, especially in communities of color.

Jared “Bigg Redd” Little, owner of Bigg Redd Barbershop in Wilmington, approached Healing Your Almond founder Franchon Francees about taking part in an event like this after his “Flipping the Couch” event in 2019. Thursday Bigg Redd, Brandon “Bigg B” Hickman, Montrel Miller and Jamar Jenkins spoke candidly about going to therapy and dealing with complex feelings.

Francees says she hopes people can take away two important things from the event.

“First, all black men are amazing. They should not be feared, they should be celebrated, they should be protected. They are just amazing,” Francees said. “Number two, it’s okay not to be okay. Whatever it looks like to you, it’s okay. Go to therapy, go to the hairdresser, go to church, go wherever you have to go to get love and the support you need.

For more information on healing your almond, visit here.