November is upon us and you know what that means, the men in our life begin to proudly don their facial hair and get creative with styling – all in the name of men’s health.

Whether it’s a classic beard, mutton chops or the handlebar moustache, it’s all some light-hearted fun to help bring attention to some serious issues that men face.

Movember

Two mates, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, met up for a quiet beer in Melbourne, Australia, and the idea that sparked Movember was born.

The moustache had all but disappeared from fashion trends. Could they bring it back? They found 30 guys willing to take up the challenge.

From there the campaign grew with extraordinary pace. From an initial focus on prostate cancer, the team continued to research men’s health issues and began supporting mental health and suicide, and testicular cancer on top of their support for prostate cancer.

The Mo’s fight for mental health

In 2019, 303 Western Australian men took their own lives. It can often be difficult for men to open up and talk about how they are feeling, but it is important for all men and boys to look after their mental health and feel comfortable to reach out to others for support when they’re struggling.

Having social connections, good personal relationships and being involved in a community are important to maintaining good mental health and can contribute to people's recovery if they are struggling.

There are many ways to get involved in your community and connect with other like-minded men, read more here.

What about good personal relationships? Seventy per cent of men say their friends can rely on them for support, but only 48 per cent say that they rely on their friends. When connecting with our friends, remember you can reach out for support. Reaching out is crucial.

These men show the impact that reaching out had on their lives and why working toward a world where men and boys are comfortable having conversations about the big things in life is so important.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjQBuowaDKY&feature=emb_title

To Mo or not to Mo – how you can get involved

There are a number of ways you can get involved with Movember and they don’t all involve growing a mo. You could grow a mo, move for Movember, or host a Mo-ment by getting your mates together. 

Find out the different ways you can get involved here: https://au.movember.com/get-involved/mo-your-own-way

Make A Move

Can’t grow a mo? Maybe it isn’t your style. Why not run or walk 60km over the month to show your support and raise funds and awareness. The Make A Move campaign is also helping change the face of men’s health, raising awareness for men lost to suicide.

Find out more here: https://au.movember.com/get-involved/move

Have open conversations with the men in your life

Another way you can continue getting involved and supporting men is checking in on your mate and having open conversations that matter. If you’re a little uncertain about how to tackle these important conversations, here are some tips to get you started.

Movember Conversations is another great interactive resource to help navigate those difficult conversations. Developed by experts in mental health, this online tool is for those who want to feel more confidence when having those important conversations with friends who may be struggling. Find out more here: https://conversations.movember.com/

Lifeline WA encourages men of all ages to reach out for help if you are struggling, whether that is talking to your family and friends, general practitioner, or by calling Lifeline on 13 11 14. We also encourage everyone to check in on the men in their lives, even if they seem okay.

Written by Tehani Payton

Image Credit: Movember