It’s Movember! Here’s how you can get involved…

Movember is a campaign which runs every November to raise awareness for men’s health. Currently, people all around the world are growing moustaches in support of prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and male suicide prevention.

Having started in 2003, Movember has since helped support 1,250 men’s health projects and sparked a much needed conversation around the importance of male wellbeing.

If you haven’t started growing a tash already, here’s a few other ideas on how to get involved with Movember.

Raise money by moving

Don’t fancy growing a moustache? Instead, you can help raise money by completing 60km over the course of November. Whether you walk it, run it, skip it or cycle it – you’ll be raising money for sons, brothers, dads, husbands and loved ones across the globe.

Do something with your friends or colleagues

Host a ‘mo-ment’ to mark Movember. This can be anything you enjoy, from a pub quiz to a corporate sports day, or even a coffee and cake hour in the office. Remember to collect donations and voilà – you’ve helped support a great cause while having a great time!

Be creative

Have an idea of your own? Give it a go! Set yourself a challenge, or do something you’ve always been too afraid to do in the name of Movember and watch the donations roll in. Or, if you’re brave enough, let your mates set dares for you which you will have to complete in order to raise the money.

How can I support my own mental health?

In the midst of the Movember movement, it’s important to remind ourselves what all of this is for. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or experiencing negative emotions, support is out there.

Here are a few ideas on how to mitigate stress and boost your mood based on suggestions from the Movember charity:

Talk to someone you trust, such as a friend or family member. They will want to listen and help you navigate the challenges you might be facing. Plus, it always helps to voice things that are bothering you in order to move on.
Exercise is another effective approach to improving mental health – even if it’s just a short walk around the block, getting out of the house (and your own head) can really help shift your mood.
Take a break if you start to notice yourself getting overwhelmed and try not to get bogged down in trying to solve everything all at once. Tackle one thing at a time, and give yourself the chance to switch off in between tasks/decision making/work etc.

Do something you enjoy each day, whether that’s seeing your friends, reading a book or going to a fitness class.

Seek professional support if none of the above is making much difference to your mental wellbeing – they will be able to provide further advice and solutions.

Amaré Health look forward to seeing how you’ll get involved with Movember and hope you have fun in the process! To donate directly, click here.