Movember are the leading charity changing the face of men’s health with a goal of helping men live longer, happier, and healthier lives. The Movember community has continued to grow since 2003, going from 30 moustaches to 5 million around the world.
In this article we will cover the key issues that the Movember campaign aims to tackle, and important topics for you to consider this International Men’s Day.
Prostate Cancer
1 in 8 men in the UK will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and globally, more than 1.4 million men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020, making it the most common form of cancer diagnosed in men.
Prostate cancer results in the prostate gland cells multiplying at an uncontrollable rate, which leads to tumours that can spread to other parts of the body. This is why early detection is key in order to increase the chance of successful treatment and long-term survival.
The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age but is not limited to the older generation. It’s more common in Black men and men with African ancestry. Genetics also play a role in the risk of prostate cancer – the risk is higher if a father, brother, or uncle had prostate cancer or if a mother or sister had breast or ovarian cancer.
Know the signs and when to get checked.
Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in young men in the UK.
While the survival rate of testicular cancer is greater than 95%, some men suffer from a compromised quality of life caused by long-term treatment-related side effects. Movember are working to get these predominantly young men back to a long and healthy life.
Social Isolation and Mental Health
Studies have shown that loneliness can contribute to issues in mental health like depression and substance abuse, and isolation can also be a contributing factor to other health issues. Lack of healthy social contact has been linked to compromised immune systems, per research at the University of Chicago.
Dr. Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General and Presidents Obama and Biden presented social isolation’s adverse health risks as comparable to daily cigarette smoking. In the same report, it is also noted that loneliness’s contribution causes increased rates of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and strokes. Furthermore, in a study done by the CDC from 1999 to 2017, it was found that that men were consistently between three to four times more likely to die of suicide than their female counterparts.
Despite this, men are far less likely to seek help from either professionals or their own social network, despite suffering from isolation at higher rates than women. Obviously struggling with loneliness and isolation are not unique to men, it is something people across the gender spectrum deal with, but it is an issue men suffer from disproportionately. In a study published by the American Survey Center, researchers from 1990 to 2021 saw rates of loneliness among men increased at a higher rate than from women, and men have become five times more likely to believe that they have no close friends.
An example of this experience can be seen from an article written in 2023 by James Barnes, who, through the process of transitioning and gaining a level of male privilege, also saw the differences in men’s social circles from what many women and others may experience. James wrote “What I didn't prepare for was how lonely it is to be a man”. James saw how many of his friendships with men and women were now surface-level and distant. The expectation made by both men and others, that men are mainly stoic and emotionally repressed, is a damaging social expectation. One that can be harmful to both the men bottling up their emotions, as well as those around them.
What to do if you are struggling:
It’s simple in theory, maybe not so much in action: invest effort into building and maintaining networks of emotional support. Take time to maintain and deepen current relationships as well as being open to new ones. In later stages of life, people are placed in fewer opportunities to form lasting social connections (like school, extracurriculars, and social living), hence social life requires more effort to maintain. Nurture habits involving emotional decompression, find time to work through emotions with trusted acquaintances.
November 19th is International Men’s Day, and during this time of year thoughts can often grow darker with the shorter days and colder weather.
If needed, seek help and support from your doctor, or use an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) such as the one at Delta Capita. To be that resource for someone else, consider using the ALEC steps:
Ask – Ask how they’re feeling, and don’t be afraid to ask twice when you can sense they are not giving the full answer.
Listen – Give them your full attention, and let them know you are listening without judgement. Don’t feel like you have to ‘solve’ problems, just be there.
Encourage Action – Help them take simple steps that can make them feel better, and encourage them to share how they are feeling with others they trust.
Check In – Ask if they want to catch up in person, or just drop a message to show that you care.
What Movember are doing to tackle these issues:
Movember are fighting these cancers through innovation and collaboration. They are doing this by:
- Spreading awareness of symptoms and risk factors to help men know the signs and take action at an early stage.
- Bringing together bright minds with fresh ideas from researchers and experts.
- Researching and building knowledge on the most lethal prostate cancer tumors and how to slow or stop progression.
- Ensuring access to services and support for men, their families, and carers.
- Investing in global initiatives for better outcomes globally.
Movember are tackling Men’s mental health through:
- Educating men and boys on how to stay mentally healthy, build strong social connections and take action early when times are tough.
- Working to make sure services are designed with those in need, that Governments understand the issues that men are facing, and demanding action.
- Working towards a world where men and boys are comfortable having conversations about the big things in life, and putting community first in providing support.
For more information on Movember, and stories from men affected by these issues, go to Movember - Changing the face of men's health - Movember (global sites can be accessed at the bottom of the web page)
Other interesting articles on Men’s Mental Health can be found here:
“I'm a Trans Man. I Didn't Realize How Broken Men Are” by James Barnes
“Men’s Social Circles are Shrinking” by Daniel A. Cox
“Why Loneliness Can Be Deadly” by Katharine Gammon
This blog post was co-authored by Jennifer Barry and Erik Zetterberg.
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