Movember – Men’s Mental Health

Movember – Men’s Mental Health – is a movement that happens every year and raises awareness around men’s health, mental health and suicide prevention.

Movember, the month formerly known as November, is when brave and selfless men around the world grow a moustache, and women step up to support them, all to raise awareness and funds for men’s health – specifically prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.

Movember was established in 2003 in Australia, it is now a worldwide movement with health projects in over 20 countries.

According to the Mental Health Foundation since the 1990’s three quarters of suicides in the UK have been among men, and three times as many men than women die by suicide, with men between the ages 40-49 having the highest suicide rate.

It is a stereotype that men are less likely to seek help for mental health problems than women and the stats back this up. The Mental Health Foundation states that in 2019, only 36% of referrals to the NHS for talking therapies, were men.

Changing the stigma around men getting the support they need for their health and mental health is incredibly important.

Movember looks at mental health through a male lens, focusing on prevention, early intervention and health promotion.

The Movember movement focus on:

• Education
• Conversations that matter – making it easier for men to have difficult conversations
• Services that work for men
• Sharing ways of supporting men that work globally
• Supporting community projects to support men
• Advocating for all men at all levels of society

If you are struggling and wanting support please check out Movember’s page of support sources.

If you have someone in your life who is struggling you could share this page with them, or simply reach out and check whether they are ok. You can be part of this movement by being open to having difficult conversations or providing support to men to get the appropriate help they need. You can be part of breaking the stigma of men talking about their feelings and asking for help.

If you would like to speak with a professional about anything that is concerning you, call Paul Carter. Paul is a counsellor and psychotherapist with many years of experience, you can learn more about Paul here on the About Paul Page. If you would like to make an appointment with him please use the Contact Page or call on 07843 813 537. Paul works in Birmingham and Kingswinford, although currently due to COVID is working exclusively online and on the telephone. For more information about how counselling works and current fees please take a look at the FAQs page.