FACES Barber & Beauty Salon focuses on men's mental health.
A local barber wanted to use his space to focus on men’s mental health. Roy Minor, owner of FACES Barber & Beauty, started Mancave Monday in 2017 to provide an outlet for men in the community.
Chicago- For many men, discussing mental health can be a challenge.
Gender stereotypes and reluctance to confide in others often hinder open conversations.
Barber shops have always been a place where conversation is part of the culture.
“We talk about religion,” Roy Minor said. “We talk about politics. We talk about relationships. We talk about parenting. We talk about sports. We talk about women.”
These are all common topics in most barbershops. But Minor wanted to go into more detail. He's the owner of FACES Barber and Beauty on Chicago's West Side.
On the last Monday of every month, his store hosts Mancave Monday, which has become a safe place for men to share whatever is on their minds.
“It’s easy to say, ‘Come on guys,’ but that doesn’t happen with men very often. I know it helps their mental health because there are things you can’t say at work. You wouldn’t say it to your wife. You wouldn’t say it to your kids. You’re just trying to bottle up your anger. But when you find a place to come and vent and find an outlet, it helps.”
Roy started Mancave Mondays in 2017. Men of all ages and ethnicities are invited. The program has become a monthly therapy session.
“Every time I leave this place, I go home feeling better,” Khari Adams said. “It’s amazing. You can’t even put a price on it. It’s good for the soul. You have to get rid of some stuff.”
During the first hour, the men usually eat some food and start making small talk. As the night progresses, the conversations deepen. No topic is off-limits.
Some examples include how to manage being a parent of a child with special needs, what are you afraid of?
“I asked this question because I think it’s important to verbalize it,” Minor said. “You might know you’re afraid of something. So that makes it hard to tell a group of guys. It takes some courage to say what you’re afraid of.”
This is just a sample of the Mancave Monday event at FACES Barbershop. Many attendees started their treatments after the event opened, and there was also an opportunity for professional networking.
