Movember: A Movement for Men’s Mental Health

Movember is a global campaign that aims to raise awareness for men’s health issues and promote better well-being for all men, especially with mental health and suicide prevention. Every year, during the month of November, men are encouraged to grow a moustache and join the movement to change the face of men’s health.

But why is Movember important for men’s mental health? And how can St Martins get its male residents and staff to be involved in making a difference?

The Problem: Men are Dying Too Young

According to the World Health Organisation, more than 800,000 people die by suicide every year, and 75% of them are men. In the UK, suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 45. Men are also more likely to suffer from common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, but less likely to seek help or talk about their feelings.

Many factors contribute to this alarming situation, such as social norms, cultural expectations, stigma, discrimination, isolation, and lack of access to appropriate services. Many men feel pressured to conform to a certain idea of masculinity, which often involves being strong, stoic, and self-reliant. They may also face challenges in their personal and professional lives, such as relationship breakdowns, unemployment, financial difficulties, or health problems.

These factors can affect men’s mental health and wellbeing, and increase their risk of developing suicidal thoughts or behaviours. However, many men do not recognise or acknowledge their mental health issues or do not know how to cope with them healthily. They may resort to harmful coping strategies, such as alcohol or drug abuse, violence, or self-harm. They may also avoid seeking help or reaching out to others for support, due to fear of being judged, misunderstood, or rejected.

The Solution: Movember and its Impact

Movember is a movement that St Martins aims to participate in and change this situation by creating a positive and supportive environment for male residents and staff to take care of their mental health and wellbeing. St Martins does this by:

• Educating male residents and staff about the importance of staying mentally healthy, building strong social connections, and taking action early when they are struggling.
• Encouraging conversations that matter among male residents and staff, and helping them to express their emotions and seek help when they need it.
• Organising programmes that address the specific needs and preferences of male residents and staff in terms of mental health services and support.
• Advocating for policy changes and system improvements that ensure male residents and staff have access to quality mental health care and resources.

St Martins is supporting Movember in some ways to improve men’s mental health in its organisation. They are:

• Grow a Mo: We will be asking our male residents and staff to grow a moustache or a beard during November and they can use it as a conversation starter to raise awareness and funds for men’s health.
• Move for Movember: We will be encouraging male residents and staff to set themselves a physical challenge during November and get active for men’s health. They will be able to choose any activity they like, such as running, cycling, swimming, or walking.
• Talk and share about Movember: We will be organising some activities and sessions to talk about Movember and ask our male residents and staff to speak about their mental health if they feel comfortable and safe to share their experiences.
• Donate to Movember charity: We will be providing a donation link so that our residents and staff can donate to Movember charity if they want to support the movement without growing a moustache or moving for Movember. They will be able to make a one-off or regular donation on the Movember website or choose a specific project or cause that they want to support. Here is the donation link for our blog readers: https://uk.movember.com/donate

We also encourage our blog readers to participate in the Movember campaign this month and show their support in promoting better mental health wellbeing for men in St Martins and around the world.

Movember is more than just a moustache. It is a movement that aims to change the face of men’s health and save lives. By supporting the Movember movement, St Martins can help raise awareness for men’s mental health and suicide prevention with its residents and staff, and make a difference in their communities and beyond.

Sources

(1) Movember – Men’s Health – Mental Health & Suicide Prevention. https://uk.movember.com/mens-health/mental-health.

(2) Movember – About Us – Men’s Mental Health Projects & Impact. https://uk.movember.com/about/mental-health.

(3) Why is Movember important to Men’s Mental Health?. https://bing.com/search?q=Movember+and+men+mental+health.

(4) Why is Movember important to Men’s Mental Health?. https://www.livewelldorset.co.uk/faq/get-active/why-is-movember-important-to-men’s-mental-health/

(5) Movember and Men’s Mental Health | Counseling Services. https://counseling.uoregon.edu/movember-and-mens-mental-health.

(6) How Movember is bringing men together to improve mental health. https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/movember/movember-mental-health-men-b970664.html.