British barbers are joining forces to tackle male suicide – the leading cause of death in men under 45.

The Lions Barber Collective is a national initiative working with Government body Public Health England to provide hairdressers with mental-health training.

Torquay-based hair stylist Tom Chapman explained: ‘Having a haircut provides men with precious time to offload and discuss problems in a friendly, non-clinical environment.

If we are formally trained to spot warning signs, we could save lives.’

The Lions Barber Collective is a national initiative working with Government body Public Health England to provide hairdressers with mental-health training to help tackle male suicide

Tom, 32, helped set up the The Lions Collective with 30 other UK barbers when they were involved in creating a photographic book to showcase their work.

He said: ‘We were discussing which charities should receive the proceeds, and one stylist suggested suicide prevention. I remembered a friend and customer called Alex who took his own life the previous year.

‘If he had told me or anyone else that he needed someone to talk to, he might still be here now.’

Torquay-based hair stylist Tom Chapman helped set up the The Lions Collective with 30 other UK barbers

Tom took a two-day course in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), after which he arranged for 12 of the Lions to learn Mental Health First Aid.

Similar initiatives have now been set up in Sweden, Canada, the US, France and Australia.