Barbers set to receive training to support men’s mental health
QR codes on mirrors will take customers to more information
A new initiative is set to train Swindon's barbers to help tackle the men’s mental health crisis.
Swindon Borough Council has partnered with Swindon & Gloucestershire Mind and Papyrus UK to teach the town’s barbers to spot the signs of mental health issues in customers and to signpost them to specialist services if needed.
In the UK, men make up three quarters (75%) of suicide cases.
Alex Hills, area manager for South of England at Papyrus, told Greatest Hits Radio: “Clearly there's more that needs to be done. And barbers have a really important position in local society. It's a place where we as men go fairly often to get our hair done.
“But also, we're really aware that it is also a place where men can be quite open. You don't often get that one-to-one time with someone else, so when they're doing your hair, you've also got that opportunity to just have a chat.”
While signs of mental health issues are similar across genders, it can be much harder to spot them in men.
Mr. Hills explained this is because men tend to “mask” their feelings and feel pressured to show a “sense of strength”.
“It is more difficult to spot the signs in men. But what I'd really encourage is that even if you've got an inkling that something might be going on is to be as open as you can with that man. And what we really encourage when we talk about suicide is to be direct. So, to ask that question, say the word ‘suicide’.”
'They can trust us with their emotions'
One of the barbers who has already signed up for the scheme is Danny Hegarty, who owns Supreme Barbers on Roadbourne Road.
He will be taking part in the training with his three colleagues at the shop.
He said: “Even now sometimes men do speak openly to us about their lives, home or work or family while we’re cutting their hair.
“I really feel that a barbershop should be somewhere men can come, and it can be a safe place and a place where they are comfortable talking to people.
“If they trust us with their hair, I want them to know they can trust us with their emotions as well.”
The initiative is being led by Lydia Jordan, a public health practitioner at Swindon Borough Council.
According to her, the scheme’s aim is to “break down the stigma”.
Participating shops will have clear signs to reassure men and boys that they are entering a safe space.
She explained: “The training won’t be onerous or take much time – it will just equip barbers to recognise how to speak about mental health, the right language to use and how to point their customers to more support.”
Papyrus UK are welcoming the initiative and have expressed interest in taking the scheme further if it proves to be successful in Swindon.
This could include involving other professionals, such as taxi drivers, in the training or trialling a similar project in other places.
However, Mr. Hill stressed that we cannot rely on others but should always be alert and looking out for signs.
“It is everyone's business and everyone has a role that they can play in suicide prevention. So, what I'd say is to encourage people to think about if they're seeing any of these particular signs in their friends or family.
“Maybe there's been a change in behaviour of one of their family members or friends. Perhaps someone seems particularly stressed or particularly irritable or sad or low. Maybe there's been a change in sleeping habits, but also social isolation”, he pointed out.
“So, if there's someone that you haven't seen for a while, not heard from for a while that you usually would, that could be a sign that they're struggling with their mental health. And we'd really encourage people to reach out to their friends and their family if they see any of those signs.”
Any barbers in Swindon who would like to take part in the initiative can get in touch with the council at [email protected].
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or at risk of suicide, please contact Papyrus via their Hopeline at 0800 068 4141 or text them at 88247.