November – the month when days get shorter, nights get colder…
And men’s tashes get noticeably out of control.
Yes, it’s that time of year again, when men across the world grow their moustaches throughout ‘Movember’ – to raise awareness of men’s mental health.
Walking past multiple men in the street with furry upper lips is enough to give anyone a giggle.
But all jokes aside, there is a seriously important reason for this quirky tradition.
Around 10.8M men across the world are facing life with a prostate cancer diagnosis. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men.
And globally, one man dies by suicide every minute of every day, with men accounting for 75% of all suicides.
Movember is a global community which aims to address this crisis on a global scale – funding projects and engaging men to understand what works best and what will make a change.
Nobody’s mental health is more important than anyone else’s, but men have long been laughed at for crying, or told to ‘man up’. In 2021, things have to be different.
Even if you’re not growing your moustache this November (and even if you don’t have one in the first place) there are ways in which we can all acknowledge and improve each other’s mental health:
Talk
Whether it’s asking how someone is feeling about an issue or simply listening to what they want to get off their chest, being there for someone and encouraging conversation can make the world of difference.
Break the stereotypes
Telling someone to “man up” won’t get us anywhere. Saying to someone “it’s ok to feel how you’re feeling” will.
Seek help
If you think someone is struggling, if you feel their needs require more experienced support or you are not in a place to support others, there are experts that can help.
