How a hat business is hoping raise awareness of mental health in memory of uncle who took his own life

Adam Shaw founded The Head Co. in December 2020 which specialises in beanie hats with the message ‘protect your head’ in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of looking after your mental health.

The 31-year-old from Boldon Colliery hopes the company will gain enough support to enable him to set up a charitable foundation that would provide services that support people with their mental well-being.

The Head Co is a tribute to Adam's late uncle David James who tragically took his own life in July 2013 aged just 47 following his own mental health battle.

Adam said: “I think Covid has escalated people’s mental health issues.

"I don’t think you will find one person who has not had some sort of negative impact from it.

"I didn't realise it at the time but my uncle was going through his own mental health battle.

"I was trying to process why he did it but it was only in the years afterwards that I started to understand it more.

"I started thinking what can I do to try and make a difference in his memory.”

Adam, who has worked in sporting and employee wellness, said the company has already gained support from well-known figures in the North East including Blackburn Rovers player Barry Douglas, who has shared the brand’s message on social media.

Now Adam hopes the public will get behind The Head Co. this Christmas following the launch of a new advert which encourages people to reach out to others who may be struggling.

Filmed in South Shields by Justin Gooch the stars a North East family reach out to a lonely neighbour by sending him a hat along with an invitation to join them on a walk.

Adam said: "It tries to get across the message that it doesn’t have to be family or friends [who are struggling] it can be anybody and it’s about looking out for someone else.

"People just need to have a conversation and that could make a big difference to a lot of people.”

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