In what has been a tougher year than most, the charity is calling on Mo Bros to unite, farewell the follicles and shave down on October 30, to raise funds that will stop men dying too young.
Now in its 17th year, the annual Mo-growing campaign encourages ‘Mo Bros’ and ‘Mo Sisters’ across the country, to rally in support of Movember’s cause areas; men’s mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
Movember’s APAC Country Director Rachel Carr said, “If there’s ever been a time to embrace Movember and shed those lockdown beards, it’s now, in 2020. It’s been an incredibly difficult year for men, which makes this year’s campaign our most important, yet.
“Research conducted by Movember shows us the effects of the pandemic on men’s mental health in particular, is concerning, and is still far from over. Job losses, relationship stresses and social isolation are taking a toll. We’ve been working hard to fast-track digital mental health resources, to address the need.
“Every donation, no matter how small adds up. Signing up for Mo-season is also great way to stay connected within your own social circles, it’s been shown that supporting others can improve your own wellbeing.
“With the help of our community, Movember will continue funding and applying research to prevent our fathers, brothers, partners, sons and friends, from dying prematurely,” she said.
Figures released earlier this year by Movember, as part of a global study carried out by the Social Research Centrei found that:
• Over half of Aussie men (52 per cent) said no one asked how they’re coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• % of men said their mental health had worsened in the first six weeks of the pandemic, with 30% noting increased feelings of loneliness.
• Older men are the group most likely to have experienced poorer social connection, with 61 per cent of men aged 45+ years reporting they feel less connected to their friends since the COVID-19 outbreak.
• In Australia, calls to Lifeline increased by 25% when physical distancing kicked in.
Movember’s Global Director of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Brendan Maher said: “Not surprisingly, our research confirmed that the impact of COVID-19 has hit men pretty hard, in Australia and globally. The statistics show us men are anxious and uncertain about the future.
“Many guys are isolated and disconnected from their usual social support networks – and the places where men usually go to have those shoulder-to-shoulder conversations with their mates, like going out for a drink or a bite to eat, watching or playing sport, or going to the gym, have been severely reduced.
“We know men aren’t great at asking for, or seeking help at the best of times, so we need to do as much as we can to buffer some of the problems they’re facing, now. The programs Movember have delivered this year will make a meaningful impact going forward,” he said.
Where the money goes, 2020 initiatives:
• Digital mental health tools, including Movember Conversations, a free online ‘conversation simulator’ to kick start conversations with the men who might be struggling.
• $3.7M into the Social Innovators Challenge, designed to fund projects aimed at creating social connectedness and mental wellbeing in men.
• $3.2M for the Social Connections Challenge to engage with innovative, crowd sourced digital or technology ideas, to better connect men amid isolation.
• Mental health grants for Veterans and First Responders initiatives with an initial investment of $6.34M over the next two years (supported by DGR).
Visit: www.au.movember.com
