Opening up about our problems can be tough.

More than ever, we are told it's important to talk about mental health, yet admitting to those closest to us that we're struggling can be a daunting experience.

For many, especially men, reaching out and seeking help can feel impossible.

Suicide continues to be the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK, with research showing that 75 per cent of suicides involve men.

The pernicious impact of a culture that expects men to simply 'man up' continues to linger, leading some to suffer in silence.

And with increasing demand for mental health services, professional support isn't always easy to access.

It's not hard to see why some might feel they have nowhere to turn.

That's why one Bolton barber has made his shop a safe haven where men are encouraged to use the opportunity of a regular haircut to open up about their problems.

Craig Henderson, the owner of Craig's Barber Shop in Tonge Moor Road, made the decision last summer after losing several clients and friends to suicide, drugs and alcohol.

Finding himself in a situation sadly familiar to too many men, Craig says he simply did not know how to broach the subject.

"I saw them deteriorating but I didn't know how to talk to them about it," he said.

"As men, we are not programmed to ask someone what is wrong.

"You say 'you will be alright, do not worry about it. You will get through that dark spell.'

"That might be comforting advice to some but when you are in that dark a place, it is good to vent."

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

Everything changed when Craig heard about the Lions Barbers Collective, an initiative set up by Devon-based barber Tom Chapman following the loss of a friend to suicide.

After reflecting on the 'unspoken bond of trust' he shared with clients, Tom spied an opportunity to make a difference through his profession.

The barber's chair has always been a place where men have felt more comfortable talking openly.

There's something about having a conversation with someone you see regularly and chatting without intense eye contact which can help people talk about what’s really on their mind.

According to a survey by barbers suppliers Bluebeards Revenge, more than half the men they quizzed saw their barber more often than their GP and said they were more likely to discuss private issues while sitting in the barber’s chair than the doctor’s surgery.

Tom set up the campaign in 2015 with the aim of teaching barbers to listen with empathy and without judgement.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

Dozens of barber shops have since got on board, transforming their own shops into spaces where men are encouraged to open up.

Like Craig, they were given basic training on how to talk, listen, spots signs of mental distress and signpost people in the right direction.

When a shop signs up to the scheme, it gets placed on a map to show potential customers they are designated safe havens where people can open up without fear of being judged.

Craig said: "It is just trying to make a little bit of a difference and getting rid of all the stigma.

"Now I can listen and be that kind ear, so the next time someone comes in I can ask them 'how is it going with that?' or 'are you speaking to your mum now?'"

The 32-year-old is no stranger to mental health battles himself. Having struggled with social anxiety since he was a teenager, Craig finally sought help a few years ago.

Even now, he panics when there are several customers in the shop but says he has learned to cope over time.

Encouraging some to open up can be difficult, but Craig tries to use his own experience to put them at ease.

"I am an open book," he explained.

"I tell people everything and then they drop their guard. I try to have a bit of a laugh with it.

"There is a guy who comes in with Tourette's and I tell him he can call me any name under the sun. If he wants to let go and he is feeling nervous then do it. I am not going to judge him.

"If someone does not want to open up though, they don't have to."

To make things easier, Craig offers one-to-one bookings in the afternoon to encourage people to talk about the problems in their life.

"If they want that personal experience then it is great for them," he said.

"I had a client come in with schizophrenia the other week and he said it was the most comfortable experience he has had in a barbers."

So far, Craig says the feedback has been mostly positive with dozens of people of various ages opening up to him.

He now wants to help train others barbers, hairdressers and beauticians to recognise the signs that someone might be struggling.

"This is one of the only professions where I will get within your personal space," he said.

"We deal with a lot of stuff daily so if we can spot signs that someone is struggling, it helps.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

"Since I started doing this about 15 years people always opened up and talked about problems in their day to day life. When I was in college training, some guy told me he was cheating on his wife and I had no idea what to say."

Once considered a taboo subject, it is now widely accepted that it is important to talk about our mental health. Still, treatment services are struggling to keep up.

Craig thinks teaching barbers to spot the signs can help relieve some of that pressure on support providers, including the NHS.

However, he stresses that he doesn't see it as a substitute for proper professional support.

"Doctors sometimes do not have the time listen because they only have a 15 minute appointment," he said.

"It took me two-and-a-half years to get help because the services are so over-saturated.

"In that two year window, someone could kill themselves because they are alone and have no one to turn to."

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It's thought one in four of us will experience mental health problems at some point in our lives.

According to Samaritans, 6,507 people in the UK took their own lives during 2018. 4,903 of them were men, with the highest proportion being made up of men aged 45-49.

Craig believes the pressures on men today are worse than ever, which is why it is crucial they have someone to talk to.

"It is there on a daily basis," he said.

"The way we look, the way we come across, the pressures to provide for our families.

"People will come in and say 'I've not made enough this month and I am struggling'. Little things like that add up.

"You get everyone coming in to talk, from the older generation, who have retired and got nothing to do to young lads. There is so much pressure on them with social media.

"A kid came in here who was taking steroids. He got bullied all the way through school because he was stick thin. His mum does not even know.

"All I said was 'look after yourself' and gave him some advice to be careful. You are not telling them stop because they will resent you and will not come back.

"You just need to give people somewhere they can feel comfortable talking.

"I can see it is helping because people will get up and look a bit lifted. It is good to let go and get it all out."

Helplines and websites

Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.

Childline (0800 1111) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.

PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.

Depression Alliance is a charity for people with depression. It doesn’t have a helpline, but offers a wide range of useful resources and links to other relevant information. http://www.depressionalliance.org/

Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying. http://studentsagainstdepression.org/

The Sanctuary (0300 003 7029) helps people who are struggling to cope - experiencing depression, anxiety, panic attacks or in crisis. You can call them between 8pm and 6am every night.