After losing a friend to suicide, Tom Chapman decided to do something about the biggest killer of young men in the UK. In a personal, moving talk he tells us about the international movement he founded building on the unique relationship between barbers and their clients to prevent suicide and save lives.

Tom Chapman is a Torquay-based barber who has made it his mission to propel the stigma of mental ill health among men into the mainstream. In 2015 founded the Lions Barber Collective, an international group of barbers who have undergone training in how to recognize symptoms of mental ill health in clients and signpost them to relevant support services. The group helps to raise awareness of mental illness and aims to prevent suicide by creating training that enables barbers to recognize, talk and listen out for symptoms of depression.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Tom Chapman: Barbers, preventing suicide one hair cut at a time | Tom Chapman | TEDxExeter

Barbers, preventing suicide one hair cut at a time | Tom Chapman | TEDxExeter

Barbers become unsung heroes in mental health, offering a chair of trust where men feel safe to share their deepest fears.

Suicide, the leading cause of death among young men in the UK, finds an unlikely adversary in the compassionate ears of barbers.

A haircut can be life-saving—The Lions Barber Collective proves just that by equipping barbers with the tools to prevent suicide.