Movember – Let’s Talk About Men’s Health

As seen in Beauty Daily 

Gents, are you ready for Movember?  

Movember, also dubbed as ‘No Shave November,’ is here, and it’s more than just an excuse to ditch shaving or show the world your mighty mustaches (and beards). It is for a cause.  

What is Movember?

Movember is an annual event founded by The Movember Foundation for a noble cause.  

Movember is about raising awareness and initiating conversations around too-often male-based taboo health topics, including prostate and testicular cancer and mental health. The organization aims to do this by encouraging men to grow a mustache and raise funds during November. However, it encourages having this conversation all year round. 

What is Movember for?

Movember is a month dedicated to men to assure them they’re not alone. Statistics show that men are dying on average five years earlier than women and for preventable reasons.  

In light of these worrying figures, Movember is funding men’s health projects worldwide, focusing on the most significant health issues facing men. Last year, all those involved in the UK raised a whopping £14.1 million.  

Talk and be there for your mate or male figures in your life

One of the goals of Movember is to build a community and a world that accepts men’s vulnerability and for all of us to offer a helping hand when needed.  

1. Ditch toxic masculinity

Did you know that an alarming 60% of men don’t share how they feel with anyone? 

Dr Richard Reid, psychologist, CEO of Pinnacle Wellbeing Services and member of The British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy (BACP), blames “The stereotype of the heroic male representation in popular culture.”   

“Fearless, resourceful, stoic and usually facing adversity alone, these characters tell us a lot about what is considered ideal male behavior within our society,” Dr Reid says. As a result, “Men often feel that they need to be self-reliant and provide for their loved ones, so it is not appropriate to express their emotions,” he adds.  

Dr Craig Beach, psychiatrist and CEO of Open Mind Health, shares that “the overarching reason [for men not opening up] is ‘toxic masculinity’, which involves cultural pressures for boys and men to act tough and suppress emotions.” 

Read the full article here.