Mayo barbers take part in Talking Heads suicide prevention initiative

The HSE has teamed-up with barbers across Mayo and the west to raise awareness and learn about new skills around suicide prevention.

The Talking Heads initiative supported by the National Office of Suicide Prevention has teamed up with 27 barbers in Mayo, Galway and Roscommon who completed a training course to identify and help customers who may need support.

The HSE stated that barbers were approached because they are in regular contact with men of all ages and backgrounds, and build up friendships and close bonds over time with their clients and are well placed to notice changes in a person over time.

All participating barbers completed the Let’s Talk About Suicide online suicide prevention training programme from the HSE which helps people to develop their skills to keep others safe from suicide. They were presented with a framed copy of their Let’s Talk About Suicide Certificate as well as a resource pack containing further information to help signpost to additional services.

Barber shops in Mayo that took part of the Talking Heads initiative are; Kelly’s Barbers, Staunton’s Barbers, and Headmasters Barbers in Castlebar; Paul’s Barbers in Westport; The Barber Shop in Crossmolina; Curley’s Barbers, Ricky’s Barbers, Lewy’s Barbers and Kev’s Cutz in Ballina; Richie’s Barbers and HG Hair in Claremorris and The Barber Shop in Foxford.

Seán Conneely, HSE Senior Health Promotion Officer who is leading the initiative said the online course helps participants to identify people who are at risk, confidently ask about the topic of suicide and connect them with resources that can help them stay safe.

“The response from barbers has been fantastic. All the barbers were very interested in the initiative and when talking to them, I could see that they really care about their clients and were eager to learn more about suicide prevention and mental health,” he said.

Kieran Staunton of Staunton’s Barbers, Castlebar said: “The Let’s Talk About Suicide programme was easy to complete. The Talking Heads resource pack means that barbers now have information and contacts to help clients, should they need it. Well worth participating in the initiative”.

Liam Murphy, The Barbershop, Foxford commented: “When I heard of Talking Heads I just thought it was the perfect way to help people and especially those that are hard to reach. The Let’s Talk About Suicide course itself covers a lot of helpful topics and I found the different scenarios acted out were eye opening”.

It is hoped that more barbers around the county will join the Talking Heads initiative. For more information please email: sean.conneely2@hse.ie or call 0879245730. For further information on mental health supports visit www.westbewell.ie.