Movember: All you need to know
Sunday 30-10-2022 - 16:11
Movember has been an annual tradition where men grow moustaches for 30 days during November to raise awareness of men’s health issues like prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s suicide. The goal of Movember is to "change the face of men's health.
Suicide is the UK’s single largest cause of death for men under the age of 50. Nearly 12 men lose their lives to suicide every day. About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime and testicular cancer is the most common cancer found in young men. Movember puts emphasis on prevention and awareness that can save lives.
History of Movember
It started as a simple idea back in 1999 - in a pub by a group of men in Australia. The group started with 80 men and soon became a nationwide phenomenon. By 2005, a different group of around 500 people raised over $40,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia which was back then the biggest donation the foundation ever received. This group later became the Movember Foundation Charity and in 2006 organised the Movember Movement.
Since then, the Movember Foundation raised over $836 million and funded over 1200 projects in 20 countries.
Why is suicide more common in men?
Men are, compared to women, most likely to be told to toughen up and not to express their emotions. These gender roles create a stigma around mental health. Statistics in the UK show that 1 in 4 men won’t discuss their mental health with close friends, family, or a medical professional due to embarrassment.
Getting Help
If you feel like you or someone around you needs help, please reach out to the following services:
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK (24/7): 0800 689 5652
NHS: Call 111 (For when you need help but are not in immediate danger.)
Visit your GP if you think you might be at risk of prostate or testicular cancer. If you’re not registered to a GP, find out how to here
Would you like to be part of this year’s Movember? Get involved!
Take part in events organized by our Student Officers at www.mdxsu.com/events to take part and donate, or sign up for the month-long challenge as a team or individual at https://uk.movember.com where you can kick off your fundraising with their easy guides.
