Movember: Pandemic takes toll on men’s mental health

A survey carried out by global men’s health organisation Movember has revealed the worrying impact of Covid-19 on men’s mental health.

Figures released by Movember, as part of a global study carried out by the Social Research Centre, found that nearly half of US men surveyed (42%) said no one asked how they’re coping during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Approximately 21% of US men surveyed said their mental health had worsened in the first six weeks of the pandemic, with 27% noting increased feelings of loneliness. Additionally, 21% of US men only felt ‘slightly confident’ or ‘not confident at all’ starting a conversation with a friend or loved one who may be struggling since the stay-at-home order and physical distancing restrictions had been imposed.

TOUGH YEAR FOR MENTAL HEALTH

In what has been a tougher year than most, the charity is calling on the community to unite, shave down and grow a moustache this month to raise funds that will stop men dying too young.

“It has been an incredibly difficult year, which makes this year’s campaign our most important, yet,” stated Hedstrom. “If there has ever been a time to embrace Movember and shave down and then grow a Mo, it is now. With the help of our community, Movember will continue funding research and investing in programmes to prevent our fathers, brothers, partners, sons and friends, from dying prematurely.” 

KEY FINDINGS

Other key findings regarding men’s health from Movember reveal that:

• Globally, we lose one man every minute to suicide. 
• In the US, 3 out of 4 suicides are by men.  
• Each year, more than 37,700 men die by suicide in the US. 
• More than 3 million men are living with or beyond prostate cancer in the US. 
• 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. 
• Each year, more than 192,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. 
• Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men. 

DIGITAL MENTAL HEALTH TOOLS

To date, Movember has welcomed six million supporters and helped fund 1,250 innovative health projects across 20 countries. “But we’re not done yet,” stressed Hedstrom. “Many guys are isolated and disconnected from their usual social support networks – and the places where men usually go to have those conversations with their friends, like going out for a drink or a bite to eat, watching or playing sports, or going to the gym, have been severely reduced. We know most men are not great at talking,  asking or taking action 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 programmes Movember have delivered this year will make a meaningful impact going forward.” 

So, the charity has launched digital mental health tools, such as Movember Conversations – a free online ‘conversation simulator’ to kick start conversations with men who might be struggling. It has also launched a ‘Making Connections’ initiative, which is aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing for men and boys. Movember is also partnering with community-based coalitions that work with either Men and Boys of Colour, or military service members, veterans and their families.

GET INVOLVED

So how can individuals and organisations get involved? Apart from growing a moustache, the charity suggests the following:

• Move for Movember – Commit to running or walking 60 miles over the month. That’s 60 miles for the 60 men we lose to suicide each hour, every hour across the world. You can join a team or run solo. 
• Host a Mo-ment – Rally a crew and do something fun. Hosting is all about having a good time for a good cause. And you can always put a virtual spin on your plans. The best part? Virtual events are easy to organise, cheap to run and you can go in your slippers. Think an online gaming tournament, Mo Bingo or a virtual trivia night. 
• Mo Your Own Way – A choose-your-own-adventure challenge, epic in scope and scale. You make the rules. You set the limits and chase them down. Take a hike, run a relay, ride your motorcycle from New York to Los Angeles. Get creative, push your limits and inspire donations with sheer grit. 

MOVEMBER BACKGROUND

Movember, the leading charity changing the face of men’s health on a global scale, focuses on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. The charity raises funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programmes that enable men to live happier, healthier and longer lives.

In addition to tackling key health issues faced by men, Movember is working to encourage men to stay healthy in all areas of their life, with a focus on men staying socially connected and becoming more open to discussing their health and significant moments in their lives. The charity’s vision is to have an everlasting impact on men’s health. Click here for more information.