Beyond the Barbershop: What Happens When Men Are Given Safe Spaces to Talk?

A barbershop is more than a place to get a haircut. It is a space where men connect, share stories and open up.

But what happens when those conversations go beyond everyday life to explore mental health, masculinity, relationships, violence and the pressures men carry? What if men could have these conversations openly and honestly, without fear of judgement?

That question shaped the #BreakFree Barbershop Talks initiative.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing require accessible support systems where young people can seek help without stigma. Through #BreakFree Wellness, 1 590 young people received psychosocial and wellness support, with mental health emerging as the leading identified need, accounting for 585 cases. The programme also supported 84 sexual violence cases and 107 domestic violence cases, with referrals to justice and health services. Wellness Wednesday reached 512 young people. Service delivery also extended beyond Windhoek to outreach sites in Oshana, Kavango East and Groot Aub, expanding access to psychosocial support and wellness services.

These figures highlight different but interconnected social challenges. They reinforce the need to create opportunities for men to examine the expectations surrounding masculinity, develop healthier ways of expressing emotions and build relationships grounded in respect, communication and accountability.

Recognising the importance of men’s mental health and emotional wellbeing, the One Economy Foundation implemented a series of #BreakFree Barbershop Talks between April and August 2026.

The initiative created opportunities for men to engage in open conversations about masculinity, mental health, relationships, and violence prevention in familiar, everyday settings, while challenging the expectations that can make vulnerability and seeking help difficult.

Sixty-five men participated in conversations at the following barbershops: Men’s Corner Grooming Studio, Tatekulu Barbershop, Legends Barbershop and Joe’s Fade Cuts. A further 26 men participated in the Game Changers Barbershop Corner at Independence Stadium, bringing the documented reach across these engagements to 91 men.

Feeling safe

But the significance of the initiative cannot be understood through numbers alone.

The real value was in what happened when men were given a safe space and permission to speak openly.

The conversations explored issues that are often difficult to discuss among men: mental health, emotional wellbeing, masculinity, relationships, consent, peer pressure, accountability and violence prevention. The familiar barbershop setting helped make these conversations more accessible. Rather than entering a formal counselling room or attend a traditional workshop, men could engage in meaningful discussions in a space they already knew, without the fear of being judged.

One of the strongest lessons from the sessions was that men are willing to engage with sensitive issues when the environment feels respectful and safe.

Participants spoke about the need to rethink traditional ideas of masculinity and recognise that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. They also highlighted the value of bringing men who may not know one another together to engage in meaningful and open constructive conversations.

As one participant reflected: “The men really opened up about topics that were sensitive.”

Conversations about men and violence often focus on the need for change. But change begins with reflection. Men need safe, non-judgemental spaces where they can examine what they have been taught about masculinity, how these expectations affect their relationships, and how they can choose healthier alternatives.

From conversation to meaningful engagement

The Barbershop Talks created such a space.

One of the most important considerations in engaging men around masculinity and emotional wellbeing is recognising that creating an opportunity for conversation is only the beginning. We must also consider where these conversations can lead to, whose perspectives they include, and how they can translate into healthier relationships.

The experience at Legends Barbershop illustrated the value of meeting men in familiar spaces. Some participants had initially arrived for ordinary barbershop services but chose to stay when the discussion captured their interest. Facilitated by Simalumba Nawa, whose own perspective and experience contributed to the exchange, the conversation demonstrated how an accessible environment and inclusive facilitation can create opportunities for meaningful engagement. Although time constraints brought the discussion to an end, participants expressed interest in continuing it.

Why conversations about masculinity must include women

More significantly, the conversations prompted reflection on who else needed to be part of the dialogue. One participant observed: “We are discussing as men, but sometimes we are going back to our women. Why then can’t we have conversations with women, bringing them to the table. Not that women are a problem, but just to discuss and learn from each other.”

This observation raises an important question: if our understanding of masculinity shapes how we relate to others, how far can conversations about men go if they remain exclusively among men?

Masculinity does not exist in isolation from the relationships and social environments in which it develops and is expressed. Families, peers, communities and wider social expectations all influence how men understand themselves, communicate, navigate conflict and approach responsibility. These influences also shape relationships with women.

While men need spaces where they can speak openly about their experiences, there is equal value in creating opportunities for men and women to listen to one another, question assumptions and develop a deeper understanding of the expectations each brings to their relationships.

This is not about making women responsible for changing men, nor does it diminish the importance of men taking responsibility for their own attitudes and actions. Rather, it recognises that positive masculinity must extend beyond how men see themselves to how they relate to others. Reflection among men can be an important starting point, but meaningful dialogue across genders can broaden that reflection and challenge assumptions that might otherwise remain unexamined.

Taking the conversation further

This thinking informed the next step, Game Changers: A Gender Dialogue, which brought men and women together under the theme “Men and Women, Talking With and About Each Other". The intention is to create a space where members of our society can listen to different experiences, question assumptions, and learn from one another. It is an opportunity to extend the reflection initiated among men into a broader conversation about relationships, emotional wellbeing, and shared responsibility.

Following the Barbershop Talks, participants continued connecting through a men’s WhatsApp group and a hiking group, creating opportunities for interaction beyond the individual sessions. Such connections matter because meaningful change is rarely the product of a single conversation. People need opportunities to revisit tough questions, exchange experiences, and continue learning together. The challenge for organisations is to ensure that these opportunities remain constructive and support ongoing reflection and accountability.

These experiences also challenge the assumption that conversations about masculinity must take place in formal institutional settings. Familiar community spaces can provide an accessible starting point for discussions about issues that are often difficult to raise. However, the value of these spaces should not be measured by the conversations they host alone, but also by whether they encourage continued engagement, help-seeking, and healthier ways of relating to others.

Ultimately, the lesson is that people cannot be expected to change through instruction alone. They need opportunities to examine what they believe, understand how their beliefs affect others, and consider alternative ways of responding to the pressures they face. Creating a safe and respectful environment makes this reflection possible, but it must be accompanied by a willingness to listen, question, and take responsibility.