Barbershops: Men’s Hidden Mental Health Aid

A 2020 survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) revealed that Black males are more likely to face significant mental health challenges, including substance abuse, cardiovascular diseases, incarceration, and others. Unfortunately, fewer than 40% seek treatment. This is largely attributed to the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community.

In a January 2025 post, Hanna Blankenship of Vermont Health Equity Initiative said one of the reasons why Black men may not freely talk about their mental health challenges in the open is because it has historically “been viewed as a sign of weakness or lack of faith in the Black community”.

Perhaps, many Black men would freely talk about their mental health struggles if the right environment is created—and barbershops have long proven this fact by building trust with their clients.

“Trust is built through consistency, authenticity, and active listening,” said John W. Hall, an entrepreneur, master barber, and advocate for financial and personal empowerment in the beauty industry. “As a barber, I see many of my clients regularly, which allows me to form long-term relationships.”

So, what is it about barbershops that encourage Black men to open up about deep-seated issues—a feat that trained professionals in healthcare facilities find hard to crack? Hall adds, “I create a space where they feel comfortable by being present in our conversations, remembering details about their lives, and offering a listening ear without judgment. Over time, this trust naturally leads to deeper discussions, including topics like mental health.”

The psychological benefits of cutting hair

Cutting hair is deeper than wearing a new look in many Black communities. For example, among the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria, a woman shaving her hair bald is a sign of mourning. Women who lose their husbands are expected to cut their hair. In other cultures, it is a sign of a fresh start or severing ties with old traumas.

Aside from the cultural reasons for cutting hair, there are proven psychological benefits that often come with the process. One major benefit of getting a haircut is a boost in self-confidence. The entire grooming process has also been proven to lower stress and anxiety levels because there is a feel-good sensation that comes with looking good.

Black barbershops are more than just for cutting hair

For barbers in Black communities, their services go beyond just running clippers or razors through the hair of their clients. Barbershops are like close-knit micro-communities where Black men freely talk about their struggles. Barbers tend to know more about their clients than even their own family.

For example, a study published in 2022 in the British Journal of Psychiatry Open highlighted how barbers were aware of the worsening mental health of their clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows there are over 100,000 barbers in America and over 20% of them are from the Black community.

A Black barbershop is a place where Black men can walk in and immediately stop worrying about their appearance or sounding right. There is also a sense of confidence that they will leave with the best version of themselves. It is a safe place where information is freely exchanged without prejudice, guilt, or shame.

“Education and access to mental health professionals would be invaluable,” Hall said, explaining how barbers can become better mental health advocates.

“Barbers could benefit from basic training in active listening and crisis intervention so we can recognize when someone may need professional help. Having direct referrals or partnerships with mental health organizations would also ensure that we’re not just listening, but also guiding clients toward proper resources. Additionally, creating spaces in barbershops for open conversations such as wellness events or support groups could make a significant impact.”

For some seniors, it is the place to escape loneliness, and they often end up sharing useful life lessons and dishing out advice to everyone for free. These lessons are then translated to other customers by the barbers. Therefore, it is not surprising that barbers are considered “gatekeepers” because of how much information about their community they know. But how do barbers identify customers who may be going through a mental health crisis?

“I pay attention to changes in their demeanor, tone, and body language,” Hall said. “A client who was once talkative but has suddenly become withdrawn, someone who expresses persistent feelings of stress or hopelessness, or even changes in their grooming habits can all be signs.”

“Since I see my clients frequently, I notice these shifts over time and try to check in with them when I sense something is off. Sometimes, just asking, ‘How have you been feeling lately?’ opens the door for an important conversation.”

Equipping barbershops to render proper mental health support

Part of the barber’s job is to listen to their customers—which is similar to what is done in formal therapy sessions, except therapy is often more expensive and time-limited. Many customers visit barbershops several times a month for years to experience the freedom, community, and confidence they offer.

However, listening to personal burdens can be uncomfortable for barbers who have no training in mental-health-related problems. According to research, targeted training can equip them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and confidence to identify mental health problems among their customers and render assistance to them. Hall believes retooling barbershops is necessary.

“Barbershops have always been a safe space for men, particularly Black men, to express themselves,” Hall said. “However, with mental health issues becoming more prominent, there is a need to make these spaces more intentional about support. This could include partnerships with mental health professionals, designated times for open discussions, and training for barbers on how to navigate these conversations. Barbershops are already community hubs and retooling them for mental health support would formalize the role they’ve naturally played for years.”

The success of any mental health intervention relies hugely on trust, and most Black men learn to trust their barbers far sooner in life than their therapist—for those who ever decide to see one.

Building on mutual trust, barbers are in a better position to offer support to customers who show signs of mental health troubles if they are trained on the subject. The Confess Project has been providing this training to barbers since 2021.

Beyond offering support to customers showing signs of mental health struggles, barbers can connect them with professional resources. A simple yet impactful idea would be to place a small bookshelf in barbershops stocked with mental health resources, making it easy for barbers to provide these materials to their customers. This small change could have a significant, lasting impact. Elevate Black Health recommends contacting your local department of health and mental hygiene for free literature and resources.

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