Founded by Tom Chapman in 2015, the Lions Barber Collective – an organisation dedicated to providing safe spaces within barbershops, salons and beyond for individuals to open up about their mental health struggles – is back, after being forced to close its doors in 2024 due to financial difficulties.
The Lions Barber Collective has now partnered with HereToTalk training, a program that empowers individuals to have meaningful conversations about mental health. This partnership aims to equip professionals with the skills to recognise when someone is struggling, ask the right questions, listen with empathy and provide necessary support and resources.
In the UK, mental health in the workplace is a pressing issue, with statistics showing that a large number of individuals do not seek help before taking their own lives. The Lions Barber Collective and HereToTalk training are committed to changing this narrative and ensuring that everyone has access to the support they need.
Both the training and the pop-up safe spaces created by the Lions Barber Collective have received multiple awards and recognition from royalty and the UK government. Tom Chapman believes that the beauty industry can play a crucial role in addressing the mental health crisis of the nation.
Tom stated: “We need to bridge the gap between the clients these hair professionals see daily and the resources available for mental health support. These conversations can happen anywhere, and we need to prepare people to listen and support those in need.”
