Barbershops as a setting for supporting men's mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study from the UK

[摘要] Background Previous research has highlighted the need to promote helpseeking by men with mental health problems.AimsTo investigate barbers’ views about offering mental health support for men in barbershops, with a specific focus on the psychosocial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodWe used a sequential mixed-methods qualitative design withonline data collection. In Phase 1, 30 barbers in Southern Englandcompleted surveys exploring perceptions of their clients’ mentalhealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, experiences of informalsupportive roles and scope for providing formal mental healthsupport in barbershops. Phase 2 involved member validationinterviews and explored practice implications with three Phase 1respondents.ResultsThematic analysis identified three overarching themes: ‘morethan a haircut’ (describing how the physical and relational contexts of barbershops can offer a supportive environment for clients); ‘impacts of COVID-19’ (describing stressors related to thepandemic and implications for clients’ mental health and barber–client relationships); and ‘formal mental health strategies’(describing opportunities for, and potential barriers to, formalising mental health support in barbershops).ConclusionsBarbers were aware of their clients’ worsening mental healthduring the COVID-19 pandemic. Barbershops were generallyconsidered to be a suitable setting in which to promote goodmental health, monitor for signs of mental ill health and provideinformation about local mental health services. Future work isneeded to co-produce and evaluate formal mental health promotion and prevention strategies in barbershops. Particularattention should be given to service innovations that preservethe credibility and trust that are fundamental to the barbershopexperience for many males.

[学科分类] 计算机科学（综合）

[关键词] COVID-19;community interventions;qualitative research;public mental health;gender