Movember [2023]

This post is all about the well known month of Movember. It's that time of year again, where the power of the moustache can start difficult conversations on topics that aren’t talked about enough.

I'm a passionate advocate on the importance of men's mental & physical health, Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men's health by focusing on cause areas from testicular cancer, prostate cancer prevention & suicide prevention.

History of Movember

Year: 2003

Two mates (Travis Garone and Luke Slattery) meet up for a quiet beer in Melbourne, Australia, and the idea that sparked Movember is born.

The moustache had all but disappeared from fashion trends. Could they bring it back? They found 30 guys willing to take up the challenge.

Movember's Origin Story: A Hairy Tale

Participating countries: Australia

30 Mo Bros

$0 raised

This movement started with 30 Mo Bros. Now, it claims a headcount of over 6 million.

Current Stats

Year: 2023

Participating countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA

6,861,045 Mo Bros, Mo Sisters and Mo's since 2003

Over 1,320 men’s health projects funded since 2003

$802 million raised worldwide

Purpose of Movember

A growing number of men – around 10.8M globally – are facing life with a prostate cancer diagnosis. Globally, testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men. And across the world, one man dies by suicide every minute of every day, with males accounting for 69% of all suicides.

The purpose of the charity is to...

• Give men the facts

• Change behaviour for the better

• Create services that work for men

• Unite the brightest minds

• Listen to the community and advocate for men

Movember is uniquely placed to address this crisis on a global scale. Movember fund groundbreaking projects all over the world, engaging men where they are to understand what works best and accelerate change.

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

WHAT I'M DOING TO GET INVOLVED

Attempting to grow my own mo.... for those of you that know me well, you know this is a real challenge as I'm not blessed in the facial hair department!

Taking part in the move for mental health challenge, I'll be running 60km this month in order to remember the 60 male suicides that take place every 60 minutes around the world.

Last but not least I'll be donating 50% of every sale of moustache wax to the charity. So ensure to stock up on your tache wax here!

Get ready to grow a Mo and save a bro. Check out my mo style guide below.

Other products to keep your mo, beard & skin in check this Movember;

Eclectic Community

November month is all about mental health awareness. I would like to highlight one of my amazing customers and in his own words why barbershops have a positive impact on peoples wellbeing.

Barber’s.

They’re individuals we put a lot of trust in, not just for cutting our hair. We often trust them with information about our lives that we wouldn’t normally discuss with others. Usually, we do it without even realising, because we feel it’s a safe place to discuss our Mental Health. We all somehow feel comfortable in the four walls of our barbers, to get things off our chest that have been weighing on us.

What’s truly impactful is the role barber’s (especially Phil) play in challenging societal norms around men and their emotions. At The Eclectic Barber, stereotypes are broken down and people feel free to engage in open, supportive discussions. For me, Phil makes that part effortless and comfortable. Our barbers are a community of influencers, who become advocates for mental health awareness, seamlessly integrating it into everyday conversation. It’s not just a trim or a shave – it’s a step toward breaking down the walls surrounding Mental Health, especially men’s Mental Health.

I can only speak for my own experience, but I get the impression a lot of other people feel the same. For most of us, stepping out of the barbers we feel like our most confident selves. Sometimes it’s the feeling of a fresh trim, but often it’s more than just that. It can be a much needed therapy session. Breaking down the barriers and stigma around Mental Health is so important and having an environment where you feel safe to do so and not feel judged can only be a positive thing.

With all that being said, don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed. Feel confident to talk about this topic and check in on your barber too.

- Jamie Middleton

Go checkout Jamie's blog about his own experience around mental health and his openness of what used to be such a taboo subject. I hope this supports others who struggle to open up and express themselves as Jamie's mission was to help break down the stigma around mental health.

MYSTIGMATHOUGHTS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Links to Support

Finally if you or anyone you know need further support please follow the link for some really useful information & direct links to the right professionals.

SUPPORT