Carlisle Barber gaining men's mental health certificate to help customers

Sarah McKibbin own's Duke Hare's in Stanwix and is on her way to completing a men's mental health course.

She's hoping that by undergoing the training, and from drawing on her own experiences, she can help some men who visit her shop open up if they feel they are struggling.

Statistics from the ONS show around 70 people in Cumbria die by suicide each year. Around three in four suicides are men.

Sarah herself has undergone challenges in life, having been referred to the health service's crisis team herself three years ago.

She believes this experience will help her empathise with others, as they may share similar experiences.

Sarah said: "It's a very relaxed thing going to your barbers. I know when I'm at my hairdresser I feel comfortable talking to her about things.

"I think because I've been quite open about my own mental health in the past, it's maybe a bit easier for people to talk to me about things like that.

"Speaking from my own experience, from that dark place three years ago, it was a lot for me to even look and reach out and try to get help. Society still teaches men that they need to be the strong ones and deal with life as it comes at you.

"Now it's quite a common thing for men to say like 'yeah works really busy and i'm a bit overwhelmed and stressed, but it's fine' and I think it's about having the skills to recognise these 'fines' and the signes and see if they want to talk more about that.

"Here it's very informal, you know your barber, but you are not connected emotionally like you are to maybe family and friends.

"It can be a safe space for you to talk to somebody."