Mayo barbers complete suicide prevention training through Talking Heads initiative

TODAY (September 10) is World Suicide Prevention Day and the HSE has teamed up with barbers across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon to raise awareness and learn about new skills around suicide prevention. The Talking Heads initiative is led out by Seán Conneely, senior health promotion officer, and supported by the National Office of Suicide Prevention.

You may well ask why barbers? Men feel comfortable and enjoy visiting their local barber. Barbers are in regular contact with men of all ages and backgrounds, and build up friendships and close bonds over time with their clients.

They can be well placed to notice changes in a person over time. Perhaps he is a little down or more withdrawn; perhaps he looks anxious or dejected - all things that could cause concern. In such cases, more than a haircut might be needed.

Let’s Talk About Suicide is a new, free online suicide prevention training programme from the HSE https://traininghub.nosp.ie/. It helps people to develop their skills to keep others safe from suicide. It 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.

To date, 27 barbers in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon have successfully completed this training. All participating barbers completed the online training, following which 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.

Seán Conneely said: “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.”

Feedback from participating barbers has been very positive.

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, added: “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.”

“I thought the idea of the Talking Heads initiative aimed at barbers was a fantastic idea as men established a rapport with their barbers and do talk and feel very comfortable with their barbers. It was great to be taught the skills of how to recognise the signs, look, listen and talk it through,” said Geraldine Ruane, Richie’s Barbershop, Claremorris.

Barbershops 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.

It is hoped that more barbers around the county will join the Talking Heads initiative. For more information, email sean.conneely2@hse.ie or call (087) 9245730. For further information on mental health supports visit https://www.westbewell.ie/.