A barber shop has introduced a new scheme designed to get men talking about their mental health, with fears that many are keeping their emotions bottled up.

Working in association with mental health charity See Me Scotland, the barber shop said its work is making a difference to people’s lives.

In 2013, 6,233 suicides associated with mental health were recorded in the UK for people aged 15 and older. Of these, 78 per cent were male.

Vincent Quinn, head barber at Dundee-based Hard Grind, said: “Barbering really does make a difference and it’s amazing how many people are more likely to open up to a stranger. We’ve had a lot of guys come in and talk about it.”

“I’ve had struggles myself and it’s definitely helped me just having someone open up. I’m not there to give them advice — it’s a two-way thing.

“It’s really just to get them to talk, it’s something so simple that can make a huge difference.”

Hard Grind joins a number of other barbershops across the country aiming to raise awareness for male mental health.

Mr Quinn added: “We’re trying to get people to open up and share their experiences.

“We’ll be joining up with some of the top barbers in the industry for a live broadcast to talk about their own issues.

“The statistics for men in particular are just horrific, so we thought by having some of the most esteemed barbers in the country sharing their experiences, we could help end the stigma.”