What happens to men's health awareness once Movember is over?

After another successful Movember campaign aimed at raising vital awareness of men's health issues, from cancer to mental health, Michelle Terry, CEO of Movember, sets out exactly what happens when the final moustache is shaved.

Earlier this month, the New Yorker magazine featured a cartoon of a 'flock' of moustaches flying off into the sunset to mark the end of Movember, during which men around the world grow a moustache to raise funds and awareness of men's health issues. It shows the extent to which the Movember campaign, now in its 18th year, has permeated popular culture and become instantly recognisable around the world. The moustache has always been our banner – our way of starting vital conversations about men's health and connecting with our community.

But what happens when the hairy month is over, and the last moustache has departed for another year? Our work is far from done. The scale of the challenge we face in improving men's health is enormous.

In the two years that I have been CEO at Movember, I've watched men's health slip further into crisis. Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March 2020, millions have had their lives severely disrupted and many still struggle in difficult circumstances.

In the last two years, men's cancers and other serious illnesses have gone undiagnosed and countless men had their treatments delayed as health services around the world have struggled to cope.

In addition, the ongoing social and economic consequences of the pandemic have had a huge impact on mental health. Movember's research has shown that over half (52 per cent) of men have suffered from poor wellbeing and over a quarter (26 per cent) met the World Health Organisation's criteria for depression.

Globally, three out of four suicides are by men, and it remains the leading cause of death for men under the age of 44.

There are no simple solutions to this crisis because everyone is influenced by different factors. But one argument is that the way men are brought up – believing that they must be invincible, controlled, and self-reliant – is part of the problem. We know that having strong friendships and people who you can rely on in a crisis is a protective factor against poor mental health and suicide. But Movember's research has shown that men's friendships tend to get weaker as they get older when work and family become their main priorities.

For many men, having a job and being able to provide for and take care of their family is a central part of being a man. If they feel they aren't living up to that standard, they (wrongly) class themselves as failures. Men are more likely to rely on their partners for emotional support. If that relationship breaks down, they are less likely to be able to cope. They are also more likely than women to be separated from their kids after a breakup.

But although awareness of mental health issues has never been higher, some men still find it harder to seek help when they need it.

Our strategy for tackling the problem is to invest in, and build evidence for, a range of innovative face to face and online approaches that appeal to men. Projects that give them the tools they need to build mental resilience and can be scaled up safely to meet the needs of large numbers.

Because men seem to find it easier to open up and talk about their problems when they are doing something else – whether that's fixing a car, watching sport or having a drink – the projects we invest in are based around an activity.

One example is The Changing Room, a 12-week programme, aimed at Hibernian fans and run by the Scottish Association for Mental Health. The course takes place at Hibernian's Easter Road stadium where the men enjoy a bit of banter about football and address any issues they are facing. The aim is for the group to bond, make new friends and to support each other through life's challenges.

Our flagship Ahead of The Game (AoTG) programme delivers face-to-face mental fitness workshops to teenage athletes, their parents, and sports coaches. The evidence-based programme is aimed at adolescent boys, aged between 12-18, and delivered through community sports clubs in the UK. During the two-hour workshops, the boys learn how to identify signs of anxiety, depression and low mood in themselves and others.

But it's everyone's responsibility to look out for each other. If you're worried about a mate who you think might be struggling, there are things you can do to help. You might not be able to fix someone else's problems, but you can listen and sometimes that is the most helpful thing you can do.

To be able to better support men who might be struggling, we created Movember Conversations. Based on the ALEC framework (Ask, Listen, Encourage action, Check in) and guided by an international team of mental health experts, Movember Conversations is a free interactive digital tool that presents a number of scenarios including job loss, social isolation and family pressures. It uses simulated conversations to explore and practise how anyone might navigate a difficult conversation with someone they care about.

From talking about the kids, the bills, a new job, or a setback – the right conversation can make all the difference to a friend who might be struggling. If we all dig a little deeper, we can help prevent more men from reaching a crisis point.

To connect with support services or get advice on how to reach out to a friend who is struggling go to uk.movember.com/mens-health/suicide-prevention and for more information on Movember Conversations, and to get help, visit movember.com/suicideprevention