Movember for Men’s Health

It’s November, which means it’s also Movember! We’re putting a spotlight on men’s health in honor of Movember by focusing on men’s mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. The idea behind Movember is to grow a moustache or “mo” (slang from our Aussie friends) as a way of changing the face of men’s health by promoting awareness of prominent men’s health issues. Here are some fast facts about men’s health:

• Life expectancy for men is almost 5 years less than for women.
• Men are 24% less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year.
• About 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
• Males make up 50% of the population but nearly 80% of suicides.

Movember aims to get people talking, raise awareness about men’s health issues like these, and encourage men to take charge of their health and wellbeing. Take this as a sign that now is the time to talk to your doctor, start working toward better health, and take advantage of free resources to help you start living a healthier lifestyle.

You can also help the cause this month by encouraging the men in your life to get checked up and lend an ear if they want to talk. Total health and wellness include not just taking care of your body, but working toward better mental health as well.

Here are further resources from the Movember non-profit on men’s health issues:

• Grow a Mo Challenge (with options for non-moustache folks)
• General Health
• Mental Health
• Prostate Cancer
• Testicular Cancer