A vehicle headrest has a support defining a horizontal pivot axis and a cushion having a front face and pivotal about the axis on the support between a use position with the face upright and a rest position with the face generally horizontal. A latch element is displaceable in a longitudinal direction relative to the cushion between a blocking position operatively engaging the cushion and preventing the cushion from pivoting from the use position into the rest position and an unblocking position permitting such pivoting. A separate safety element engageable with the latch element is displaceable in a transverse direction between a locking position operatively engaging the latch element and preventing movement of the latch element into the unblocking position and a releasing position permitting movement of the latch element into the unblocking position.