Programs We Fund

Did you know that on average men die five to six years younger than women? And that suicide rates are four times higher for men than women? More than five men die prematurely each hour from potentially preventable illnesses.

Those are some hard hitting facts; especially when you consider there’s no biological disadvantage putting men at greater risk. According to research, up to half of male cancer cases could be prevented by making healthier diet and lifestyle choices. The reasons for the current state of men’s health are numerous and complex but undoubtedly a big issue is the way men think about their health; preventative health being something that often just doesn’t compute. It’s this issue that Movember’s Awareness & Education program is working hard to change.

Awareness and education changes behaviour and mind-sets; it gradually breaks down barriers, removes stigmas and brings about real change. Movember wants men to take responsibility for their health, prevent illness by leading a healthy lifestyle and understand the symptoms and signs in both themselves and others so they can appreciate when and how to seek help if needed.

Is Movember Making a Difference?
Has the dial been moved? Is all the moustache generated chat actually making a difference? These are questions Movember is constantly asking. The answer is without doubt, yes. Each member of the Mo community is helping to bring about change through their personal Mo. Here’s a short video clip highlighting how that individual journey is making a very real difference. 

The facts featured in the video come from a recent piece of global Movember research and highlight the impact Movember’s Awareness & Education program is having. At its core, Movember is a word-of-mouth campaign driven by in-person communication and reinforced through digital media. In fact, 77% of people first heard about Movember as a result of Word of Mouth.

Other Canadian specific statistics taken from the research, which are of interest, include:

90% of participants spent time thinking about improving their health
75% of discussed their health with family, friends or colleagues during Movember
34% understood that their health depends on how well they take care of themselves
66% of participants have had a recent general check-up
48% carried out personal research on men’s health issues during Movember

The research encouragingly shows that participation in Movember does encourage men to proactively engage in the management of their health. However, findings also highlighted that some men had ignored an issue rather than go to a doctor. This is proof that there is still work to be done and Movember has a responsibility to keep raising awareness, thereby motivating and engaging men around the world to change the face of men’s health.