To think about the men in your lives is to consider those formative relationships that shaped you into the person you are today. Whether it’s a father, a brother, family member, colleague or friend, these are the relationships that inspire us to be the best version of ourselves, that are like coming up for air during times of grief or personal hardship, the mates you can count on to come pick you up after a late night out, or simply take your mind off things with some friendly competition of beach cricket.
But despite our close friendships, the fact remains that for many men, talk of mental and physical health is largely swept under the rug or emitted from conversation entirely. Though vulnerability should be celebrated, for too many it’s something they feel they don’t have the space to express.
According to statistics compiled by Movember, men’s health is in crisis. Men are dying on average five years earlier than women for health reasons that are largely preventable. Around 10.8 million men globally are facing life with a prostate cancer diagnosis, while testicular cancer remains one of the most common cancers amongst young men globally. Most shocking of all however, is the fact that around the world, one man dies by suicide every minute of every day, with males accounting for 75 per cent of all suicides.
As Dr Kieran Kennedy explains, “Every year, more men lose their lives from suicide than any other cause. I’m talking more than car accidents, more than cancer, more than heart disease or any other cause of death. To think that the leading cause of death for our young men comes at their own hand still surprises and shocks a lot of people, and it’s a gut-wrenching statistic.”
Dr Kennedy adds, “There’s absolutely an ongoing silence and particular brand of stigma when it comes to men talking about and reaching out for mental health support. We can’t keep silent on this anymore, or keep losing so many lives behind closed doors. Suicide in men is absolutely an epidemic, and in many age groups it takes more lives than any other cause – but to change that, we’ve got to knock back the silence, we’ve got to light up that dark and get talking.”
When it comes to breaking down the stigma surrounding men’s health, Movember aims to do just that. What started as a quiet beer chat between two mates – Travis Garone and Luke Slattery – in a Fitzroy pub, has since become a global campaign to grow the ever elusive moustache in order to get conversations going about men’s health. 19 years on, Movember continues to be a global leader in men’s health and now operates in 21 countries, having raised over $1 billion globally.
Through the initiative, national and global collaborations have been facilitated to enable researchers and practitioners to share resources and knowledge, while a supportive environment has also been created for men to come together and support one another to take action when it comes to their health and wellbeing.
Not surprisingly, this Movember 2022 offers an exciting opportunity to join the conversation and enact change, with plenty of ways to get involved and take part. While the campaign is certainly one that seeks to educate and better understand men’s health, it’s also one where a primary objective is having fun. Here are some of the ways you can make an impact this month:
Grow a Mo: whether it’s baby fluff or patchy, it doesn’t matter. Grow a mo this Movember to start conversations around the cause, using your face as a billboard to raise funds and awareness for men’s health.
Move for Movember: commit to running or walking 60kms over the month for the 60 men we lose to suicide each hour, every hour across the world.
Host a Mo-ment: few things are better than hanging with your mates, and Movember is the perfect opportunity to get the group together for a good cause to change the face of men’s health.
Mo Your Own Way: You make the rules, you set the limits and chase them down. Choose your own adventure and inspire donations in a way that works for you.
For more details and to sign up, visit the official Movember website here.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, help and support is available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or text 0477 131 114 for 24/7 support where you can access confidential one-to-one text with a trained Lifeline crisis supporter.
