Tommy Gun’s barber shop in Toowoomba’s Grand Central Shopping Centre is raising awareness for a good cause. On Tuesday 8 May the hairdressing salon will be hosting Mates Day, where men can get half price off any service and a cold drink if they bring a friend with them. The promotion is in conjunction with the Movember Foundation Australia and is an effort to increase awareness of mental health issues amongst the male population.

Both the foundation and the barber shop are endeavouring to break through to the community and raise awareness of the fact that many men are dying younger, whether that be because of mental health or physical health. The Movember Foundation is the only charity tackling men’s health on a global scale, year round; and addresses some of the biggest health issues faced by men: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention. The foundation is not government funded, but in 13 years it’s funded more than 1,200 men’s health projects around the world. The aim is to reduce the number of premature male deaths by 25% by the year 2030.

Communication is one of the biggest issues men face. According to the Movember Foundation Australia, 70% of men are there for their friends, but only 40% would turn to a friend if they were going through a tough time. Tommy Gun’s bring a friend fundraiser is trying to change that, as many men may feel comfortable talking about their problems with a friend while getting a haircut, or simply enjoy spending time in a good environment and being reminded of the resources that are out there if they need help.Tommy Gun’s barber shop has hosted many events previously to raise money and awareness for men’s health and continues to be a valuable contributor to the Toowoomba community.

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