Swindon Borough Council urges local barbers to engage with a new training programme designed to improve and destigmatise mental health issues amongst men.
Public health practitioners from the council will be teaming up with experts from Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind and Papyrus UK to provide accessible mental health training for barbers and men’s hairdressers.
The scheme will offer barbers guidance on how to facilitate healthy conversation about clients’ mental wellbeing.
A public health practitioner from the council told the BBC: ‘We recognise the unique and trusting relationships barbers often build with their customers. This initiative aims to transform those spaces into safe and supportive environment.'
She added ‘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’.
Barbershop mirrors will also be fitted with QR codes that provide customers with further online resources about mental wellbeing.
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