The importance of Movember.
The annual event has been going strong for 20 years – Image via Noah McIlroy (@NsmUnited).
Every single year during the month of November, men around the world gather to raise awareness for Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, synonymous with the campaign referred to as ‘Movember’.
This month-long initiative founded in Australia back in 2003 aims for men to grow facial hair and engage in conversations about their physical and mental well-being.
Funds are also raised through global donations in an attempt to tackle health concerns such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention, with Coventry University amassing over £5,000 towards this year’s cause.
Whilst progress has been made in recent years to acknowledge the various challenges that men face on a daily basis, there is still a sense of insecurity that is too often overlooked.
A report published by the NHS last week concerning the mental health of all Children and Young People in England, found that 20.3% of eight to 16-year-olds had a probable mental disorder in 2023, and that among 17-19-year-olds, the proportion was 23.3%.
According to Richardson Healthcare, one in eight men in England face common mental health problems.
A survey by Priory Group of 1,000 men in the UK found that 77% have experienced some level of anxiety, stress, or depression, with the top three issues:
• Work-related pressure - 32%
• Financial pressures - 31%
• Health concerns - 23%
This has resulted in 40% of men who have never talked about their mental health with close friends, family or a professional therapist.
An infographic to illustrate the reasons for men not discussing their mental health – stats via Priory Group - graphic via Noah McIlroy (@NsmUnited).
Men are three times more likely to turn to alcohol and drugs to deal with their feelings rather than talk about them, with 75% of all suicides in the UK committed by men.
All of these figures clearly indicate how men’s mental health still needs to be addressed in a much more significant manner.
Someone from Coventry who is attempting to help raise awareness is Taylor James - host of the Waffle Shop Podcast, recorded from a custom-built studio in Fargo Village with the help of TwentyTwo Digital.
The Waffle Shop studio is located towards the main entrance of Fargo Village - Image via Noah McIlroy (@NsmUnited).
Taylor encourages discussions about mental health with various guests all across the world, and said: “There’s an older generation who weren’t necessarily allowed to talk about their mental health, yet to see them now embrace things like Movember and break that generational stigma is really important.”
“When it comes to mental health, for me the biggest thing is allowing people to be heard - so men who might be struggling and not know how to communicate verbally can grow a moustache to show their support - so long may it continue,” Taylor added.
Taylor is immensely proud of the positive influence that his podcast has created - Image via Noah McIlroy (@NsmUnited).
Emmanuel Solomon is a 21-year-old student from Aston University studying Law, who said: “I think things like Movember are important, as they show it’s okay to speak up about your mental health.”
Inside the custom-built studio where new episodes of the Waffle Shop are recorded - Image via Noah McIlroy (@NsmUnited).
“I know people who have struggled in the past, yet they’ve felt better seeing others come together for a good cause, which is really powerful,” Emmanuel added.
If anyone feels they’re struggling with any of the mental health issues mentioned, you can find more information and necessary support on some of these websites:
Movember: https://uk.movember.com
Young minds: https://www.youngminds.org.uk
CW Mind: https://cwmind.org.uk