Training barbers to save lives: Let’s Talk About Suicide

To coincide with World Mental Health Day, Fingal County Council has rolled out an initiative that is designed to encourage young men to talk more openly about their mental health and that will see local barbers trained to recognise signs of distress, start supportive conversations, listen well and connect clients with the help they need.

The Talking Heads project has backing from a number of community organisations, including Fingal Children & Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC), Healthy Fingal, HSE Mental Health Services Dublin North City & County and Dublin City CYPSC.

In keeping with this year’s World Mental Health Day focus on creating safe spaces for open conversations, initial sessions of Talking Heads will be held in barbershops in Finglas and Lusk, with plans to expand to additional locations. The initiative invites barbers to look past the scissors and offer supportive conversation when it’s needed.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary, said: “Barbershops are places where young men often feel comfortable and open. By encouraging barbers to complete the Let’s Talk About Suicide training, we are creating trusted spaces where conversations about mental health can happen naturally. On World Mental Health Day, it’s important to remind everyone that reaching out and talking can save lives.”

In addition to creating welcoming spaces for conversation, barbers across Fingal are being encouraged to complete the free online suicide prevention training programme, ‘Let’s Talk About Suicide’. This helps equip participants to recognise the signs that someone may be at risk, build confidence in directly addressing suicide, and connect those in need with appropriate support networks.

Niall McGuirk, Healthy Fingal Coordinator, added: “Talking Heads is about empowering communities to look out for one another. We know barbers build strong bonds with their clients, and this initiative gives them practical tools to support someone in distress. It’s a simple but powerful way to make a real difference in suicide prevention.”

The Talking Heads initiative will extend beyond World Mental Health Day, featuring a targeted social media campaign to encourage barbers to sign up to the training, and remind men that your barber can be a great, trusting listening ear.

John Duffy, HSE Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention, said: “We know that small conversations can make a big difference. By encouraging barbers to complete the free Let’s Talk About Suicide training, Talking Heads equips them with the confidence to recognise when someone might be at risk and to connect them with the right supports. This initiative shows how community spaces, like barbershops, can play a vital role in suicide prevention.”

The Let’s Talk About Suicide Training is open to anyone over 18yrs and can be accessed via https://traininghub.nosp.ie

Need support?

Visit www.yourmentalhealth.ie for information on how to mind your mental health, support others, or to find a support service in your area. You can also call the Your Mental Health Information Line on 1800 111 888, anytime day or night, for information on mental health services in your area.

For more information on the Talking Heads initiative or Let’s Talk About Suicide training contact: John Duffy, HSE Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention, [email protected]