November is Men’s Health Awareness Month and a time to come together to promote healthy lifestyles for the men in our lives. You might be familiar with the popular “Movember” campaign this month, in which people grow moustaches to raise awareness about men’s health issues.
In this post, we’re honoured to showcase this and other impactful campaigns that promote well-being among men. We highlight the work of leading charities, including the Movember Foundation, Prostate Cancer UK, Men’s Health Forum, and the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). We share several opportunities for you and your charity to get involved during Men’s Health Awareness Month—and every day.
The Health Challenges Men Face
Men’s Health Awareness Month is a time to recognise the key health issues that affect men in the UK. Compared to women, men have a higher risk of dying from cancer; they also experience a higher rate of suicide, access healthcare services less often, and die on average six years earlier than women—often for reasons that are largely preventable. In addition, here’s some other staggering statistics to share:
- In the UK, one in five men dies before the age of 65
- Half of men over the age of 50 develop an enlarged prostate
- In the UK, one in seven men die from coronary heart disease
- One man in ten now has diabetes
- One in eight men are reported to have mental health problems
This month let’s be inspired to raise awareness of men’s health issues—like prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health challenges, and suicide prevention—and encourage healthier, happier, and longer lives. Please read on to learn how you can get involved this month to support the men in your life.
UK Charities Championing Men’s Health
Movember Foundation
The Movember Foundation has been “changing the face of men’s health” for 20 years. In 2003, the foundation helped start the “Movember” movement in which participants grow a moustache and raise money to support men’s health, including research investments and transforming the way health services reach and support men. Since it launched, Movember has grown from 30 “Mo Bros” to over 6 million participants, and the money raised from the campaign has helped fund over 1,320 men’s health projects around the world.
- Get involved: “Growing a Mo” is a visual symbol for improved men’s health. If you’re keen to sport a moustache this month, it’s easy to get involved. Just sign up, set up your profile and fundraising target, share it with others, and start growing! If that’s not really your thing, no problem. You can also support the Movember Foundation with Move for Mental Health, in which you pledge to run or walk 60 KM over the month to represent the 60 men we lose to suicide every hour around the world. You can also Host a Mo-Ment to raise money; the foundation provides a helpful “Host Toolkit” with party planning tips. Or you can “Mo Your Own Way” and create your own unique fundraising campaign.
Prostate Cancer UK
Prostate Cancer UK takes men’s health “by the scruff of the neck” and strives for a world where no man dies from prostate cancer. The charity’s top priority is to fund critical research and invest in better treatments and tests to spot fast-growing cancers early. To date, Prostate Cancer UK has invested over £75 million to “unravel the complexity of prostate cancer” and give men the right care at the right time for the best chance of a full and healthy life. The charity also offers men a direct connection to Specialist Nurses and makes 15,000 such connections every year. It advocates for men to get risk checks, which has led to more than 8,000 men starting treatment this year compared to last year.
- Get involved: Did you know? Prostate Cancer UK is the main beneficiary of the Movember campaign. By participating in Movember (see above), you’re also supporting and contributing to Prostate Cancer UK’s important research initiatives. You can also donate to Prostate Cancer UK, find a fundraising event (like the London Christmas Carol Concert 2023), or organise your own fundraising activity. With the holidays around the corner, you can also find a range of feel-good gifts at the Prostate Cancer UK Shop, including a virtual gift shop where you can make a donation in honor of someone else.
Men’s Health Forum
The Men’s Health Forum works to tackle the high rate of premature deaths in men. In the UK, one man in five dies before reaching age 65. The Men’s Health Forum conducts research in partnership with academic institutions and other charities; raises awareness; advocates for men’s health by working with local authorities to shape men’s health policy; and shares best practices for patients and providers alike. The Men’s Health Forum also provides health information and resources to more than one million people a year.
- Get involved: During Men’s Health Awareness Month, you can support the important work of the Men’s Health Forum in all facets of awareness, advocacy, and activities. You can make a donation, sign up for newsletters, peruse and purchase a Man Manual, sign the charity’s manifesto, or simply get in touch to offer your support. (And be sure to check back during next year’s Men’s Health Week which takes place 10 June to 16 June, 2024.)
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
CALM stands together, united against suicide. 125 lives are lost every week to suicide; in the UK, 75% of all suicides are among males. CALM provokes conversation, runs national awareness campaigns, and brings people together to get the help they need, when they need it. Notably, the charity uses a range of topics—like music, sport, and art—to share its message and encourage people to seek help. CALM also offers life-saving services, including free, confidential chats with its specialised helpline staff, either online or on the phone. The helpline and webchat are open to anyone 365 days a year and the staff offer practical suggestions for the problems we face. CALM’s staff answer a call every 59 seconds.
- Get involved: To support CALM during Men’s Health Awareness Month, start by signing up to receive their latest newsletters and campaigns. You can participate in an upcoming event (like the London Winter Walk 2024) or organise your own challenge. You can also make a special donation to CALM in memory of a loved one lost to suicide.
Men’s health is something we can all get behind—if not for ourselves then for our fathers, brothers, partners, sons, and friends. As we mark Men’s Health Awareness Month this November, how are you and your charity supporting healthy lifestyles and improved health outcomes for the men in our lives? We’d love to hear what other campaigns and fundraisers you plan to participate in.
As a starting place, we hope you check out the charities we’ve highlighted here—the Movember Foundation, Prostate Cancer UK, Men’s Health Forum, and CALM—to support the critical and creative work these organisations are doing to make a real difference every day.