What is Movember?
Male Health Awareness Month, also known as Movember, occurs in November of each year.
The name "Movember" is a portmanteau of the Australian-English diminutive word for mustache, "mo," and "November."
This annual campaign can be traced back to Australia in 2003, when a group of male friends decided to grow mustaches to raise awareness about depression and prostate cancer.
This event has since expanded across the globe to spotlight critical health issues that disproportionately affect males and to raise awareness and funds for these issues. In particular, the focus is on mental health, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.
Its main aim is to challenge the stigma surrounding male health issues and encourage open conversations about male well-being. Individuals do this by growing out their mustaches and taking part in various activities.
Males are encouraged to take a proactive approach to their health by seeking regular check-ups, adopting healthier lifestyles, and discussing health openly.
Why is Movember Important?
Mental health is a critical component of male overall health, yet it often remains overlooked or stigmatized.
It is important that male mental health is addressed because it impacts not only individual well-being but also relationships, work performance, and society at large.
The severity of the male mental health crisis is evident in the statistics. In Canada, males have accounted for 75% of completed suicides in recent years.
Despite the high rate of suicidality among males, they are often less likely to seek help. Traditional gender expectations often discourage men from expressing vulnerability or seeking support.
Movember can help by encouraging males to share personal accounts of their mental health journey. This can be a powerful way to encourage other males to seek support.
How to Participate in Movember
There are several creative ways to get involved in supporting male mental health during the month of November.
- Make a Donation: Support the cause by contributing financially to YMHC. YMHC is a not-for-profit, charitable community-based organization, offering essential, accessible, and meaningful resources to support youth mental health.
- Grow a Mustache: The traditional form of participation is to grow a mustache throughout November, using it as a conversation starter to raise awareness.
- Move for Movember: Commit to walking or running 60 km over the month, symbolizing the 60 men lost to suicide each hour across the world.
- If comfortable, share your own experiences with mental health to help reduce stigma.
- Host a Fundraiser for YMHC: Organize an event to raise funds and awareness to support the mental health of males across Canada.
- Display posters in high-traffic areas like hallways and cafeterias.
- Incorporate infographics into health education curricula.
- Include mental health resources in employee onboarding materials.
- Conduct "lunch and learn" sessions using factsheets as discussion starters.
- Share infographics and factsheets on social media platforms.
- Volunteer as a mentor for males, providing guidance and support in navigating mental health challenges.
Resources for Male Mental Health
Counseling Services
Professional counseling is available through various organizations, offering both in-person and remote options. For instance, the Canadian Centre for Men and Families (CCMF) provides mental health services specifically tailored for men.
Hotlines
Crisis hotlines offer immediate support for men experiencing mental health emergencies. Here is a crisis line that is available 24/7/365 across Canada:
- 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 9-8-8
Other Resources
YMHC is dedicated to raising awareness for male mental health and providing a variety of educational resources and tools to help reduce the stigma and promote understanding.
Here's an overview of available resources, how to access them, and suggestions for effective utilization:
- Posters: Visual aids designed to capture attention and convey key messages about men's mental health. These often include statistics, warning signs, and support information.
- Support services: We offer a variety of free support services to support males living with mental health challenges. These services include peer support programs and our daily messages of support. They also include our heart-to-heart campaign, which sends hearts to students who are struggling to attend school due to mental health or disability-related challenges.
- Mental Wellness Resource Packs: Comprehensive materials designed for mental wellness. They incorporate evidence-based practices such as CBT and DBT and are available in multiple formats, including digital, photocopiable, and paperback.
- Mental Health Booklets: We have a variety of booklets designed to take care of youth mental health and effectively manage crisis situations. Explore our booklets.
- Workshops and Presentations: YMHC offers workshops and presentations tailored to various audiences surrounding mental health. Get on our waitlist for 2025.
- Mental Health Merch: We have a variety of gifts you could purchase to support your mental health or the mental health of a youth that is struggling. You can select from products with the YMHC logo, animal puns, Every Child Matters, or customize your own product.
Share these resources with your friends and loved ones to encourage them to participate in activities during Movember to support YMHC and male mental health.
You can practice collective care to work together to create a more supportive community for males. Read about how YMHC is making a difference and how you can donate to us as a registered charity organization here.