Men’s mental health

According to the Mental Health Foundation (MHF), three times as many men as women die by suicide, are dependent on alcohol or report frequent drug use. Men report lower levels of life satisfaction, and 87% of rough sleepers are male.

Men are also less likely to access psychological therapies. However, they do seem to open up in the barber’s chair – and barbers, in partnership with mental health charities, are doing their best to listen and help.

Opening up

Charlotte Reakes, co-owner of Lockup Barbers in Westfi eld, Somerset, lost her brother-in-law to suicide seven years ago. ‘No one expected it,’ she says. ‘People in that position don’t want you to know how they’re feeling. His death rocked the community.’

Charlotte is now raising money for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and donated 10% of the shop’s profi ts from 21 June to 31 July. ‘Our area has seen a number of male suicides in the past few months, the most recent of which was a barber,’ she says. ‘Th at gave us the push to do it.’

World Mental Health Day is on 10 October, and some of the UK’s barbers are playing an important role in tackling the men’s mental health crisis.

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

WORDS STEVE SMETHURST

Charlotte says men will talk about their feelings when they’re in the chair. ‘Th ey feel like they’re in their own little bubble. Th ey’re looking in the mirror and all they can see is the two of us. We’re also disconnected from their day-to-day world.

‘We’ve got CALM posters and T-shirts in the shop and people do ask about them. Most people have a story that involves mental health. Clients talk about losses, relationships, fi nancial problems. A lot of it is listening.’

Charlotte hasn’t had any formal training. ‘We can only respond with our humanity. But I can empathise with people. We’ve been talking to clients and asking: “What would you do if your friend said they were struggling?” Th ere’s been a mixture of answers – often it’s “I wouldn’t leave their side.” But when I ask them “What would you do if you were struggling – would you tell your friends?”, they all say no.’

Proven benefi t

Curfew Grooming, which has locations in Brixton and Hackney Wick, London, has joined forces with ‘Th e 12th Man’, a mental health campaign from the charity Th e Outsiders. ‘It organises mental health fi rst aid [MHFA] training for

REACH OUT

Sometimes, listening to other people’s issues every day can be stressful. If you need support yourself, make sure to ask for help or talk to someone. The following websites have useful info and resources:

bit.ly/MHF-getting-help anxietyuk.org.uk bit.ly/Mind-side-by-side

CLIENTS TALK ABOUT LOSSES, RELATIONSHIPS, FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. A LOT OF IT IS LISTENING

barbers, tattoo artists and taxi drivers – basically places where conversations happen – to address men’s mental health challenges,’ says co-founder Ben Th eophanous.

All staff and management at Curfew took the training. ‘Some staff have, or have had, mental health issues,’ says Ben, ‘so not only was it helpful in making them more sensitive to clients, but it also had the potential to help them with challenges they’re having.’

A lot of the training centres on why certain people, scenarios or events – such as a relationship break-up or the death of a family member – may contribute to a mental health issue.

‘You can be a shoulder to cry on or listen to what they have to say, but empathy is more powerful. Once you learn to pick up on things like their language, behaviours, mood or personality, you can react in a diff erent way.

‘I’m certain our training has benefi tted many clients,’ says Ben. ‘We send out client surveys and one of our recent questions asked whether people thought our MHFA training was useful – 87% said yes.’

Doing more

James Mace, manager of Th e Blind Barber in Th undersley, Essex, has set up a mental health support group, walkandtalk4men.com. Th is stemmed from his MHFA

TOM CHAPMAN PREVENTING SUICIDE ONE HAIRCUT AT A TIME

Our Winter 2020 edition featured

Torquay-based barber Tom Chapman, founder of the Lions Barber Collective (LBC), which off ers online training for barbers on suicide prevention.

Tom passionately believes that barbershops can be safe spaces where men can talk about mental health, and that by enabling conversations, barbers can help prevent suicide. In a TEDx talk, he says:

‘It’s estimated that those of us in the hair industry listen for nearly 2000 hours a year. That’s a lot of time. Maybe there’s something we can do very special with that time that’s given to us.’

LBC has also opened its fi rst not-for-profi t salon in London’s

Carnaby Street, with all proceeds going to charity. ‘This is only the start,’ says Tom. ‘I hope to have Lions Barbers all over the country that can provide a safe space for those who need it, while connecting with all the local services available so we can bridge that gap in a place that holds no taboo or stigma for people to visit.’

BarberTalk Lite training:

bit.ly/Barbertalk-lite

BarberTalk podcast (Spotify):

bit.ly/Barbertalk

TEDx talk: bit.ly/TomChapmanTedX

training with Movember. ‘I’m learning all the time. I’m walking and exercising more, and created my own events where men can get together for walks in the countryside.’

James says he’s struggled with depression, and while he’d heard of Movember, he thought it was just a cancer charity. It was an eye-opener when he was invited to a ‘Mo sessions’ event at the charity’s London offi ces. ‘Th ey had speakers discussing suicide prevention and I wanted to get involved. Th e community ambassador role was mentioned, I applied for it and I’ve just signed up for my third year.’

He says that men typically squeeze a haircut into an already busy day. ‘When they sit in my chair, it’s a bit of a release for them. You ask open-ended questions and people talk about their families, their work. Th ey might say: “Do you know what, I’m really struggling at the moment.”

‘You’re listening for triggers, such as talking about drinking too much, taking drugs, or words like “giving up” or “wanting to leave”. It’s about listening and giving a gentle nudge in the right direction.’

While many barbers actively support men’s mental health, James would like to see more done as a profession. ‘More can be done in every area,’ he says. ‘Exhibitions within the industry, such as Salon International or Barber Connect, could do more by setting up mental health areas or stalls where barbers under pressure could meet some friendly faces who are willing to chat.’

TO FIND OUT MORE

The 12th Man Barbershop:

12th-man.org.uk/trades/barbershop

Movember: uk.movember.com Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): thecalmzone.net/about-calm/

what-is-calm

WHEN THEY SIT IN MY CHAIR, IT’S A BIT OF A RELEASE FOR THEM

KEY DATES

10 OCTOBER

World Mental Health Day

NOVEMBER

The Mental Health Foundation focuses on men’s mental health

mentalhealth.org.uk/ our-work/campaigns/ mens-mental-health-month

Movember: The charity highlights male issues, including suicide and mental health.

uk.movember.com

1-5 NOVEMBER

International Stress Awareness Week

APRIL 2022

Stress Awareness Month UK

13-20 MAY 2022

Mental Health Awareness Week UK