Mind Yourself!
While working in the hair industry brings many rewarding opportunities, we recognise the challenges it can pose to both your mental and physical health. The demanding nature of the job, long hours, and time spent away from home can make it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance. The ever-evolving nature of our work often leads to putting work before personal commitments or important medical appointments, which can take a toll on overall well-being.
At The Hair Guild, we are committed to fostering a community that values the health and well-being of our members, both on and off the job. We encourage our members to connect with one another and form supportive teams that prioritise well-being in all aspects of the profession.
If you’re struggling in any area of the hair industry, we urge you to seek support. Many of us have faced similar challenges and understand the unique pressures tied to different roles. Your teammates, colleagues, and The Hair Guild are here to offer guidance, resources, and encouragement.
In recent years, The Hair Guild has partnered with key organisations to advocate for improvements, including better work-life balance, financial stability, enhanced health and safety standards, and stronger professional relationships. While progress is ongoing, we remain dedicated to advancing these efforts.
As we continue to work towards a more supportive industry, The Hair Guild has compiled a list of helpful resources for those times when you may feel overwhelmed or need extra assistance. You are not alone in facing these challenges — we are here to support you every step of the way.
Minding Creative Minds
Minding Creative Minds offers a free counselling service to all members of the creative industries in Ireland, including those working in the hair sector. When you reach out, you’ll be paired with a dedicated case worker who will connect you to the right counsellor or psychotherapist, based on your individual needs.
In addition to mental health support, the Minding Creative Minds programme provides access to various services designed to help you manage practical issues that may contribute to anxiety and stress. Once registered, you are entitled to 30 minutes of free advice per topic, covering a wide range of areas:
• Practical Advice: Guidance on day-to-day issues that may be causing stress or anxiety.
• Legal Assistance: Consultations with Irish solicitors, including those specialising in family law, property conveyancing, and criminal law.
• Financial & Consumer Assistance: Advice from qualified financial advisors on household budgeting, debt management, retirement planning, savings, and investments.
• Career Guidance & Life Coaching: Access to a panel of career coaches offering guidance on professional growth.
• Support for Non-Irish Nationals: Assistance for non-Irish nationals and their families in navigating the Irish system.
• Mediation Services: Help with resolving disputes in the workplace or related to family business, defective goods/services, or building and construction issues.
You can contact Minding Creative Minds by texting “Hi” to 0873690010 on SMS or WhatsApp (standard rate applies).
Other Resources
Your Mental Health
A comprehensive directory of services and supports from the Health Services Executive with general information about mental health and wellbeing and tips on how to how to help a person experiencing a mental health problem.
Fettle
Tap into Ireland’s most experienced network of accredited and qualified online therapists who can help you with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, couples therapy and more. Or choose your online counsellor based on specialist therapeutic approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
HSE – Mental Health Services
Information on mental health services in Ireland.
MoodGym
A training program for depression is based on cognitive behavioural therapy. It teaches people to use ways of thinking which will help prevent depression.
Psychological Society of Ireland Information on how to find a psychologist.
Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
MentalHealth.net
An online directory of services and supports offered by organisations, helplines, websites and support groups including information about training, benefits, housing, in-patient care, complaints, advocacy and recovery.
Information about medications.
Spun Out
Health information for young people, including mental health, sexual health, exam stress and general lifestyle information with an extensive online directory of available supports and services.
Reach Out
Provides user friendly mental health information for young people; encourages help-seeking, signposts and explains services and promotes positive mental health. The service is delivered by a dedicated team of online communicators and moderators
I-Act
Youtube channel. It is a leading evidence-based accredited programme for promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. i-act is a pro-active approach which explores how we may improve wellbeing to build resilience and it provides a first-response approach to supporting someone in need
Social Anxiety Ireland
Provides a group treatment programme for those with social anxiety
OCD Ireland
Information, support and news for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Trichotillomania and Body Dysmorphic Disorder sufferers
Personal training
Recognised as a top personal trainer in Dublin, Keith Grainer will help you reach your physical goals step by step and teach you how to maintain them.
Keith worked in the film industry so he understands the long hours and pressures on crew.
Book a free consultation here.
Yoga with Adriene
has free very accessible yoga classes available on You Tube for free
Pieta House
Offers specialised treatment to clients who self-harm, suffer from suicidal ideation or have made multiple suicide attempts.
Clients receive an intensive programme of one-to-one counselling lasting about four to six weeks. Pieta House is a nonprofit organisation and the service is free of charge.
Email: mary@pieta.ie
Suicide or Survive
Provide a range of educational and therapeutic programmes aiming to increase understanding of suicide and suicide prevention.
Samaritans
A charity in Ireland offering emotional support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
If you need someone to talk to, call them they listen, they won’t judge or tell you what to do.
Call: 116123
HUGG
Healing Untold Grief Groups for suicide bereavement support
Mindfulness Ireland
A network of people in Ireland who aspire to practice mindful living and mindfulness meditation.
Headspace is a mindfulness and meditation app (14 day free trial)
Insight Timer is a free meditation and mindfulness app
Self Compassion practices
Finding Peace in a Frantic World
A website with details of books and other resources relating to mindfulness.
Drugs.ie
Provides Ireland’s only online interactive information and support chat service – the drugs.ie LiveHelp service. Drugs.ie also houses a national database of treatment & rehabilitation, information & support, counselling, education & training services.
The HSE Drugs & Alcohol Helpline
Provides support, information, guidance and referral to anyone with a question or concern related
to drug and alcohol use and/or HIV and sexual health. The service is confidential, non-judgemental and offers space to talk about your situation, to explore some options and to consider your needs.
During calls/emails, staff refer to a database of over 400 services nationwide.
Helpline: 1800 459 459
Email support: helpline@hse.ie
(Monday to Friday, 9.30am and 5.30pm)
Quit
A support service and online information resource for people who want to stop smoking. It is run by the Health Services Executive.
Freephone 1800 201 203
Freetext QUIT TO 50100 or chat online
lgbt.ie
has a great list of mental health supports for the LGBTQ+ community
The National LGBT Helpline
provides a confidential, listening, support and information service to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. The service is also used by people who are questioning if they might be LGBT, as well as the family and friends of LGBT people and professionals looking for information. The service is volunteer-run and operates Monday to Friday from 7 to 9pm.
Call: 1890 929 539
Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI)
seeks to improve conditions and advance the rights and equality of trans people and their families. Their vision is an Ireland where trans people are understood, accepted and respected, and can participate fully in all aspects of Irish society.
Call: 01 873 35 75
Gay Switchboard Ireland
provides a confidential telephone support service. Listening, support, and information are provided to all callers in a non- directive or judgmental way. The service is available to the LGBT community, their parents, families and friends, and to anyone who has concerns relating to sexuality, including HIV/AIDS related enquiries.
Call: 01 872 1055
Outhouse
is a community and resource centre for LGBT people, their families and friends. It is based in central Dublin. Its primary goal is to offer a safe space for people to inform, meet, organise and make things happen
Call: 01 873 4999
Lesbian Line
is a listening service run by lesbian and bisexual women. The volunteers are not qualified counsellors but can listen and can give you the information you might need on the many support services available.
Call: 01 8729911
Gender Identity Family Support Line is a volunteer-led listening and support service for families of trans and gender non-conforming people in Ireland. The Gender Identity Family Support Line is an initiative of Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) and LGBT Ireland. The line is open from 6-9pm on the second and fourth Sunday of the month.
Call: 01 907 3707
Gay Health Network
publishes and distributes HIV and safer sex information for men who have sex with men (MSM), as well as conducting and publishing research.
Man2Man
is a comprehensive sexual health information website for men who have sex with men.
Can be found second hand or in Irish independent bookshops
The Four Agreements
by Don Miguel Ruiz
The Body Keeps The Score
by Bessel van der Kolk
When The Body Says No
by Dr. Gabor Matè
How To Do The Work
by Dr. Nicole LaPera
Fuck it
by John Parkin
Podcasts
The Blind Boy Podcast
Hosted by Blindboy, of the Rubberbandits. An eclectic podcast containing short fiction, interviews and comedy. Often discusses issues with mental health.
Here is a playlist with some of the related episodes.
Where is My Mind with Niall Breslin
A weekly podcast that explores how we can better look after our heads and hearts in the chaos of the modern world
I WEIGH
Challenges societal norms through conversations with thought-leaders, performers, activists, influencers, and friends about their own experiences and stories with their mental health. With hilarious and vulnerable conversations, I WEIGH amplifies and empowers diverse voices in an accessible way to celebrate progress, not perfection
Glow West Podcast
Conversations about sexual wellness with Dr Caroline West.
ConverSayTrans
An intergenerational podcast series exploring trans culture. The podcast developed by The Stairlings Collective with funding from Create in collaboration with TENI with continued participation of the trans community, explores invisible histories and culture through intergenerational dialogue and archival materials.