A Small Act Of Kindness Can Make A World Of Difference

It’s not just a haircut – it’s an internal transformation.

Many of our hairdresser volunteers provide these transformations at St. Paul’s, working on our mental health units 9A, 2N, and 8C. These units are primarily for patients with a dual diagnosis of mental illness and substance-use issues; the majority of whom are from the Downtown Eastside. Many of these patients lack the funds to go to a hairdresser and when they receive a haircut, staff notice a change in their appearance and behaviour.

Jay Hartnell has volunteered as a hairdresser at St. Paul’s Hospital since May 2017 and has provided more than 75 haircuts to patients.

She shares her reason for volunteering at St. Paul’s as a hairdresser: “I love the fact that such a small act of kindness can make a world of difference in someone’s life.”