Greetings and salutations, chaps and chapettes, on this brisk November day – or should I say Movember day?
Indeed, we have officially entered into November, a month that shines a significant light on many issues related to men’s health, both physical and emotional.
Movember is one of my favourite charitable initiatives. Not only does it make it easy for all men to take part by growing their Mo (no Mo is too big or too small!), but it’s been an incredibly forward-thinking charity since the year 2003 when it was started.
Chappy, what exactly is Movember?
Ah yes, apologies – it’s no good me rabbiting on about Movember if I don’t explain the cause first! So…
When it wasn’t so popular, the Movember movement got many men talking about their mental, testicular, and prostate health. Today, they are the leading charity changing the face of men’s health.
The charity encourages men to raise money by growing a moustache (a ‘Mo’) throughout November. Thanks to Movember, Mo has become a symbol of the fight against a handful of some of the most critical issues faced by men worldwide.
Aside from growing a Mo, fundraisers can also choose to join an activity challenge or host a Mo event, making it a movement that’s not just to us chaps but chapettes too.
Taking a leaf out of women’s book
The founders of Movember avow that “It’s the women’s health movement that Movember is emulating” as “women tend to be the gateway to health in a man’s life”.
Thanks to Movember, the stigma surrounding visiting the doctor to have concerning symptoms checked out and that which envelopes the issue of reaching out for the sake of one’s mental health is being dismantled.
I particularly love the advice on their website, which outlines 4 straightforward steps you can take to ask a fellow brother if he needs emotional support – something men have notoriously been bad at doing in the past.
One groundbreaking documentary that placed a microscope under the issue of men speaking to other men about their problems was made by Roman Kemp back in 2020.
Suppose you haven’t checked it out and are planning on participating in Movember. In that case, this documentary sensitively captures the anxiety men feel around asking for help and offers viable answers on overcoming feelings of shame and guilt that can come with asking for help. It’s the perfect watch this Movember.
Going solo: what steps can I take to protect my health and emotional well-being?
Thanks to a lot of progression in health and medicine over the last decade, we know more about prostate cancer and testicular cancer than ever before.
Even simply making sure you check yourself over regularly at home for lumps could potentially save your life, and if you’re unsure what to look for, YouTube is more than happy to step up and show you how.
Peace of mind is a hugely influential thing when it comes to your health. Worrying about a potential lump or bump can exacerbate mental niggles that you might have.
Sometimes the uncertainty of worrying can be more powerful than a diagnosis or being given the all-clear. With this in mind, you are getting a comprehensive blood test that screens for any abnormalities, including signs of cancer, which can help you to get a little control in times of chaos or worry. These can be performed at private clinics across the country.
The moral of the story
So, that’s all from me, folks! Remember, Remember, this Movember to:
- Check your little chap down below for any lumps and bumps.
- Check-in with your chums to ensure they’re doing OK (we all need an ear from time to time).
- Grow that Mo and raise some dosh for the fantastic Movember cause.