Ms Michelle Roberts1, Mrs Katie Roberts-Slater1, Dr Tessa Clarkson1, Ms Sarah Lavelle2, Dr Liz Eggins1, A/Prof Kylie Burke1
1Metro North Mental Health Service – RBWH, Brisbane, Australia, 2Hair Aid, Brisbane, Australia
Biography:
Michelle Roberts is a Social Worker with 30 years of clinical practice. She is the Team Leader of the inpatient Allied Health team based at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Mental Health Service which employs Social Workers, Psychologists, Occupational Therapist, Music Therapists, Dietitians and Clinical Assistants.
Katie Roberts-Slater is a Senior Occupational Therapy Assistant and Coordinator of the Meaningful Activity Program at The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Mental Health Centre. Her role involves providing diversionary and therapeutic activities to adult inpatients of the Mental Health Service. She has a background in Nutrition and Dietetics and Recreational Therapy practice.
Abstract:
Haircuts for Mental Health is a collaboration between Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Psychologists and Researchers, delivered in partnership with Hair Aid. This presentation will review the impact of professional hairdressing services on the admission experiences of inpatients at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Mental Health Service (RBHW-MHS), focussing on overcoming barriers to self-care. The project was informed by consultation with Nursing colleagues, Lived Experience, CALD and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teams, ensuring culturally responsive and inclusive practices.
Reduced personal hygiene, including grooming, is a common symptom of mental illness that can negatively affect mood, motivation, self-esteem, social engagement, and treatment adherence. To date there is limited literature that examines the impact of haircuts specifically within an inpatient mental health setting, therefore best practice interventions are not well understood.
Consumers admitted to inpatient wards with longer stays at the RBWH-MHS often lack access to haircuts due to barriers like mental illness, financial constraints, limited leave, and safety risks on the ward. Previously, the only access to hairdressing services for those without leave or finances was via staff members, which exceeds clinician scope of practice. This project addresses barriers to self-care, via access to free professional hairdressing, during an admission for serious mental illness is associated with improved admission experiences.
The ongoing evaluation, via pre and post surveys has so far found increased satisfaction with service, increased wellbeing from consumers and positive feedback from staff. Barriers and facilitators to implementing the hairdressing service for the project will be discussed.