Barber scarred by dad’s suicide after secret depression battle now helps clients open up
Ken Hermes, from Halstead, Essex, was just 15 when his dad took his own life
CLIPPER in hand, barber Ken Hermes gets to work trimming another bloke's beard.
While he values every customer, there's one guy he wishes he could have sitting in his chair – his dad Kenneth.
The 45-year-old took his own life when Ken, from Halstead, Essex, was just 15 after secretly battling depression.
Just hours before, the pair had enjoyed an evening together playing their favourite songs on the guitar, chatting and drinking beers.
Ken, 28, said he had no idea how his dad was really feeling, despite always thinking he "wore his heart on his sleeve".
As part of The Sun's mental health awareness and suicide prevention campaign, You're Not Alone this Mental Health Awareness Week, Ken has opened up about the struggles he faced after suddenly losing his dad.
He said: "I feel like we’ve helped a lot of people. I’ve gone back to my old school with some of the teachers that were there when it happened and given talks."
Now an official ambassador for the collective, he's encouraging other barbers to sign up to the training to help men up and down the country.
Ken said: "We're not trying to get barbers to be counsellors, because we're not, but it's a great opportunity to get them to open up.
"It’s so intimate - if you’re going for a beard line up you’re with a guy with a razor close to your cheek. You’ve already broken down so many physical barriers.
"We try to normalise the conversation and provide a non-clinical, non-judgemental environment.
"From there we can spot the signs and encourage them to open up, and if we feel they need help we can signpost them in the right places."
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost - to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others... You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, , 116 123
He added: "I find that because of my own experience it's a good conversation starter. They might already recognise me, which opens it up, or they'll ask how I got into hair and then I can tell them about the charity.
"The majority of men can relate to something I say and it's endearing that men want to talk about it."
Ken says anyone who wants to get involved should visit the Lions Barber Collective website for details on free training.
A survey commissioned by the Lions Barber Collective and male grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge revealed that more than half of British men now feel more comfortable discussing sensitive mental health issues such as depression with their barbers/hairdressers than with their doctors.
The Bluebeards Revenge has also launched a new hair styling gel, with 50p from each tub sold going to The Lions Barber Collective, helping the charity raise awareness and prevent male suicides all over the world.
The inside of the product cartons also carries branded messaging from the charity, signposting men to the Samaritans charity to seek additional support.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans (free) on 116 123.