Tom Chapman had never had any reason to worry about his – or anyone else’s – mental health, until one of his close friends took his own life. Devastated to learn that suicide was the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK, Tom knew he wanted to do something to help.
Working as a barber, he saw an opportunity to harness the special bond between a trusted barber and client and turn his barbershop into a safe space where men could talk about mental health.
And so the Lions Barber Collective was born: a charity made up of an international group of barbers, all of whom came together to help prevent suicide. Quickly gaining momentum, the group launched Barber Talk, a training programme for barbers on how to help their clients open up.
In Barber Talk, Tom explains how his response to a personal tragedy helped him affect real social change and start a powerful revolution in the world of men’s mental health.
Tentang Penulis
Tom Chapman is an award-winning barber, author, public speaker, global ambassador and international educator. He has educated and performed all over the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, Asia and Brazil. A multipublished session stylist and platform artist, Tom has even had his work grace the front cover of industry magazines, including HJ Men.Believing that the barbershop is a great, safe place for men to talk, Tom founded The Lions Barber Collective in September 2015. The Lions are an international group of barbers raising awareness for suicide prevention. Tom has delivered a TEDx talk on the subject andhas been featured on multiple national and international media outlets, including the BBC. In 2017 Tom received a Points of Light award from the UK Prime minister for his outstanding volunteer work, and he looks forward to meeting Prince William in 2019.Tom published his first book, The Barber Boom, in 2018.