November has begun, and the moustaches have grown among your friends. No, it’s not a coincidence. It just means that “Movember” has begun!
For some years now, Movember has been practiced every November to raise awareness about the importance of taking care of men’s health. This movement has evolved and become increasingly popular worldwide, as Movember is a great way to do something good for society while having a good time with your friends. Let’s see what it’s all about!
What is Movember?
Movember is an initiative started in 2003 in Australia by the Movember Foundation. The name is a play on words that combines the English words Moustache and November.
It all started when activists challenged men to grow moustaches for an entire month to raise money for testicular and prostate cancer, seeking sponsorship from friends, family, and co-workers.
So, what started as a challenge among friends has become a global movement. Today, the Movember movement raises millions yearly and is a platform for raising awareness about men’s health.
The Movember Foundation has, to date, funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects to prevent conditions such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention. Its goal is to reduce premature male deaths by 25% by 2030.
But what is this movement all about? Movember is a creative activism that seeks to support men in the fight against chronic and degenerative diseases, saving many lives. To do this and increase the movement’s visibility, Movember challenges men to grow out their moustache during November.
| Health issue | Movember’s impact |
|---|---|
| Prostate cancer | Funded 1,250+ projects globally |
| Testicular cancer | Focus on early detection & support |
| Mental health | Increased awareness & resources |
| Suicide prevention | Aims to reduce male suicide rates |
The stigma associated with men’s health
In recent years, together with social movements related to mental health and the advancement of technology and science, stigma and prejudice on many issues, including the role of different genders in society, have been reduced. However, there is still a long way to go.
Among the social beliefs or ideas that still refuse to go away are those characteristics traditionally associated with masculinity, such as a reluctance to express emotions or physical pain, as well as a fear of showing weakness or vulnerability. And, of course, such socially imposed beliefs imply an associated risk to men’s health, both physically and mentally.
The problem is, under this male paradigm that teaches to hide feelings, camouflage weakness, and suffer in silence, many people avoid seeking help, which in the end leads to multiple negative consequences. This is seen in increased suicide rates and physical illnesses that progress rapidly because they are not detected in time, among other risks. For this reason, it is essential to increase the conversation about these issues in order to break this toxic dynamic and aspire to higher levels of well-being.
In the UK alone, more than 4,300 men die by suicide, making 3 out of 4 deaths carried out by men. Suicide is a complex and multifaceted issue influenced by various factors, including mental health, societal pressures, economic stressors, and personal circumstances. The disproportionately high number of male suicides may reflect the challenges and expectations placed on men within societal norms.
The Movember movement aims to increase awareness of men’s health, mental health prevention strategies, and regular health checks in response to this issue. It encourages men to seek help by raising funds for related causes.
Movember in enterprises
Workspaces are essential for promoting healthy habits, as they are where we all spend a large part of our day. However, ifeel’s recent report, Mapping the Impact, showed that mental health problems are still present in many work environments in many European countries. In this sense, companies that join such initiatives are crucial in raising employee awareness of important issues such as health and well-being.
One of the responsibilities of Human Resources departments is to provide support tools for employees and raise awareness of the various existing issues that pose a risk to their mental and physical health. This allows the workforce to detect mental health problems early and increases their awareness of the importance of health in general so they can ask for help when necessary.
Action Steps for HR managers
- Create awareness campaigns: Develop sessions or workshops focused on men’s health awareness.
- Facilitate participation: Organize events or competitions to engage employees in Movember activities.
- Supportive environment: Encourage open discussions about mental health to reduce stigma and promote well-being.
In line with this, adopting well-being programmes in companies and practicing movements like Movember helps foster a positive, stigma-free working environment where workers feel protected. This, in turn, reduces rates of absenteeism and mental health leave.
Movember is a fun and easy way to build team spirit and engage staff while raising awareness of the need to raise funds for men’s health.
The Leadership Lens 🔎
Leaders play a crucial role in fostering a workplace culture that prioritises health and well-being. By embracing Movember, leaders can model the importance of health discussions and normalise seeking help. This involves actively participating in Movember activities, encouraging open conversations about men’s health, and integrating well-being initiatives into the company culture. Leaders set the tone for vulnerability and engagement, proving that strength lies in acknowledging and addressing health concerns.
Supporting mental well-being in organisations
At ifeel, we believe that taking care of the relationship between employees and the company means supporting workers at all times, offering services that make difficult moments easier for them, and fostering sustainable and healthy productivity.
To support companies in this process, our team of expert workplace well-being psychologists has created a mental well-being solution for businesses that improves talent retention, reduces presenteeism, and combats employee stress.
With our mental well-being solution, your company’s HR managers can receive personalised, data-driven advice on improving mental health at work. In addition, this solution offers employees a 360° mental well-being service structured at different levels according to their needs. Try our solution now to see how it could help you.
We hope you found this post about Movember interesting. If you would like more information about our mental well-being solution for companies, simply request it, and we will contact your team as soon as possible.
