After years of men growing out their moustaches every November to raise awareness of men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s suicide,
some may think that the cause is “getting old”. Nothing could be further than the truth. In the current global health crisis, Movember is important for promoting good health in men.
Movember ZA announced: The Movember Foundation has made the difficult decision to no longer run a dedicated Movember campaign in South Africa.
However, this does not mean that what Movember stands for is any less important right now.
Why the movement started: “Our fathers, partners, brothers and friends face a health crisis that isn’t being talked about. Men are dying too young. We can’t afford to stay silent.” – says the Movember site.
- Gender is one of the strongest and most consistent predictors of health and life expectancy. For men, this is not good news. On average, across the world, men die 6 years earlier than women.
- Suicide affects men more than women: three-quarters of suicides are by men. The World Health Organisation estimates that 510 000 men die from suicide globally each year. That translates into one death every minute. Men, regardless of age group, often don’t recognise when they’re experiencing a mental health issue, and may not be comfortable asking for help. The uncomfortable truth is that some stereotypical forms of masculinity are killing men. Health professionals are there to help. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group offers a free suicide hotline and advice related to anxiety and depression.
- The impact of prostate and testicular cancer on lives is substantial, with prostate cancer being the second most common cancer in men worldwide. Globally, more than 1.4 million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Visit our network of professionals to find the right doctor for you in your area to schedule a prostate check.
The Movember challenges and causes:
- Grow a Mo
- Move for Movember: A 60km fun run
- Host a Movember event: Mo-Ment
For more information on Movember, visit the global site.