This November we raise awareness of Movember 2021.
What is Movember?
Movember raises awareness of men's health issues, such as prostate
cancer, testicular cancer, as well as mental health and suicide prevention.
Every November, men across the world grow their best moustache in
support of this life-saving foundation.
There are so many reasons to care about Movember. Here are the ones that
stand out:
Movember tackles male mental health stigma head on, shifting the
perspective that "emotional men are weak" through a number of
mental health awareness campaigns.
Societal genders roles dictate that when men express emotion, they are
not "real men". This stigma can cause men to suppress their emotions
in order to present as "manly" and "strong".
About 75% of UK deaths from suicide are men, and suicide is the most
common cause of death in men under 50.
Studies show that men are less likely than women to seek help from
friends or medical professionals for mental health issues, such as depression,
anxiety and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).
These statistics demonstrate the need for mental health support for men
everywhere.
Movember helps detect prostate cancer early
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men worldwide.
Prostate cancer will affect 1 in 9 men in their lifetime.
Symptoms of prostate cancer do not normally appear until the prostate is
large enough to affect the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the
bladder out of the penis). This can make it difficult to detect early.
However, detecting prostate cancer early can be the difference between
life and death.
Movember spreads awareness of the importance of early detection of
prostate cancer through its impressive awareness campaigns, prostate cancer
stories and many educational resources.
For enquiries or assistance please contact the South African Depression
and Anxiety Group (SADAG) on 0800 567 567 or visit their
website for live online counselling www.sadag.org
