“A good moustache makes a man for many reasons.” – John Oats
You might have noticed that since the start of November, there are more men around you sporting their moustaches. Well, it’s Movember, a movement meant to raise awareness about men’s health issues, specifically prostate and testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide.
How it started
Movember’s origin can be traced back to 2003 when Travis Garone and Luke Slattery started growing a moustache to bring back the trend amongst their friends as a joke. The two Australians later decided to associate the idea with men’s health issues and got in touch with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
By 2004 the movement had gained traction in Australia, the UK, and Spain with 450 “Mo Bros” who had raised AUD 54,000 to support the PCFA. Over the years, the trend spread to the rest of the countries bringing tremendous awareness and raising over AUD 21.5 million, which supported over 770 health projects for men.
Why is it important to celebrate Movember?
In recent years, men’s health has been in crisis. There is little awareness of some alarming facts, such as:
- Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. The number of men diagnosed with it worldwide is expected to rise to 1.7 million by 2030.
- Globally suicide rates are twice as high for men when compared to women.
- Globally 12.6% of men have mental or substance abuse disorder.
Raising awareness about these issues is essential to recognise men in need of help and encourage them to seek help. Since many of these health issues are also a subject of awkwardness, having a whole month dedicated to it promotes conversation and relaxes social stigma.
How can you join the movement?
To join the movement, all you have to do is start the month of November with a clean-shaven face. Participate by registering online alone or with your moustache bros as a group. Grow a moustache (not a beard) and post pictures of yourself on social media regularly throughout November to record the growth of your moustache. You can also get involved with the movement by contributing to the cause, even if you don’t wish to grow a moustache.
