New international recognition for an African initiative serving the mental health of African women
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Lomé, Abidjan, Douala and Paris, March 11, 2024-/African Media Agency(AMA)/- On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the innovative Heal by Hair program from the Bluemind Foundation was highlighted honor in the prestigious VOGUE magazine. Heal by Hair, after attracting the attention of the New York Times in December 2023, is once again honored on the international stage by appearing in the Global Women’s Feature issue of VOGUE, highlighting its crucial role in promoting health mentality of African women
A growing reputation: a major turning point for Heal by Hair (VOGUE)
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Heal by Hair, a pioneering movement of mental health ambassador hairdressers in Africa, is a signature program of the Bluemind Foundation. It aims to improve the mental health and well-being of African women, one client at a time, through the hairdressing chair. Since its launch, the program has transformed the lives of nearly 54,000 women in Togo, Cameroon and Ivory Coast.
“Heal by Hair opened my eyes to the importance of mental health and gave me the tools to support my clients beyond hair. Being published in Vogue is extraordinary recognition of our work as mental health ambassadors! It is a source of pride for our community and our country, Togo. » – Adaku Adama Hondeglah, delegate of the fourth promotion of the program.
“I am grateful to the Bluemind Foundation for giving me the knowledge to support my clients in their mental well-being through Heal by Hair training. It’s an incredible honor to have the opportunity to share our stories and our commitment to mental health in a magazine as prestigious as Vogue. » – Hélène Azoyivo, co-delegate of the fourth promotion of Heal by Hair.
“Heal by Hair was much more than just training for me. It was a real eye-opener about the importance of mental health and community support. Being featured in Vogue shows that our voice and experience matter, even in the biggest circles. This proves that it is possible to leave the districts of Lomé and land in the pages of major magazines. The New York Times and now Vogue, it’s like a dream…! » – Têlé Akouavi Da Silveira, hairdresser ambassador, Lomé.
Photo Delali Ayivi / VOGUE
Since its launch, Heal by Hair has received exceptional media coverage, with articles in outlets such as the New York Times, BBC World, Voice of America and TV5 Afrique. This recognition also resulted in strong institutional support, notably with the Ministries of Health of Togo and Ivory Coast, as well as financial partners such as the Innovation Fund for Development (FID) – hosted by the French Development Agency (AFD) and chaired by Esther Duflo (Nobel Economy 2019) – and the European Union. The program has been regularly rewarded, which demonstrates a growing awareness among stakeholders of the need for African populations to have innovative, effective and sustainable public health solutions, in accordance with their socio-cultural reality.
A historic chapter for mental health and the emancipation of African women, a renewed commitment from the Bluemind Foundation
If the programs of the Bluemind Foundation gain influence and social impact, women’s mental health remains a major problem in Africa. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), 135 million people suffer from mental health problems in Africa and, among them, women under the age of 25 represent 60% of people suffering from mental health problems (i.e. 81 million) and 85% of them do not have no access to necessary treatments. Thus, the spotlighting of the Heal by Hair program in VOGUE demonstrates the importance of continuing efforts to lift taboos and promote women’s empowerment. There Bluemind Foundation reaffirms its commitment to expanding the impact of the program and supporting African women in their access to better mental health and well-being.
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“Today, as we celebrate women’s rights, it is crucial to recognize that women’s right to good mental health is an essential part of their empowerment and overall well-being. While Heal by Hair and Togo, thus representing the whole of Africa, are highlighted in VOGUE, this publication takes on a singular importance for our organization as well as for the loyal partners who give us the gift of their trust. This is a testament to the tireless efforts of Bluemind Foundation teams and highlights the profound impact we have on communities, with transformative results that directly touch the lives of hairdressers and their clients. Our determination to continue our mission to serve the mental well-being of communities is only strengthening. »confides Marie-Alix de Putter, founder and president of the Bluemind Foundation.
By 2035, the Bluemind Foundation aims to improve the mental health and well-being of 2,000,000 African women in 20 African cities.
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To read the full VOGUE article: https://www.vogue.com/article/global-women-togo-braids
To rediscover the New York Times article: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/26/world/africa/hair-salon-mental-health-services.html
To support the Heal by Hair program: https://www.bluemindfoundation.org/donate
Distributed by African Media Agency pour Bluemind Foundation.
ABOUT BLUEMIND FOUNDATION
Bluemind Foundation is an international organization chaired by Marie-Alix de Putter, who founded it in July 2021 following the assassination of her husband and her personal experience of post-traumatic stress, depression and chronic anxiety. Our constant message is based on a strong conviction: mental health is health. With the ambition of making mental health a social, cultural and political issue, Bluemind Foundation’s mission is to destigmatize mental health and make care accessible for all.
The headquarters of the Bluemind Foundation is in Lomé (Togo) – with representations in Douala (Cameroon) and Paris (France).
MEDIA CONTACTS
Bernice Agbodjinou
+228 91 23 51 86
Evrard This
+225 05 04 27 14 28
www.bluemindfoundation.org
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Source : African Media Agency (AMA)