As Movember approaches, Movember has teamed up with the forces behind the new blockbuster film Midway, leveraging the mighty Mo to honour the moustaches that came before, focusing on military veterans across Canada and raising awareness for veteran mental health and PTSD. With moustache season on the horizon, this year Movember and Midway are putting a new focus on the vital need for better education, research and programming required to support the veteran community within Canada, but also worldwide.
Midway centers on the Battle of Midway, a clash between the American fleet and the Imperial Japanese Navy which marked a pivotal turning point in the Pacific Theater during WWII. The film, based on the real-life events of this heroic feat, tells the story of the leaders and soldiers who used their instincts, fortitude and bravery to overcome the odds. With a star-studded cast including Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, Aaron Eckhart, Darren Criss, Alexander Ludwig, Dennis Quaid, Woody Harrelson, and Nick Jonas (who are of course sporting a variety of classic, vintage moustaches throughout the film), Midway brings awareness to an important, historical moment in time, but is also is using the movie’s launch to put a spotlight on the developing veteran mental health crisis.
In fact, growing evidence suggests that military veterans from all over the world, are at a greater risk of struggling with their mental health. In Canada alone, these studies have shown that veterans are at a much higher risk of suicide than those within the general population. With men already accounting for 75% of suicides nationally, the statistics show a clear and urgent need for more resources available for those within this community.
Veteran mental health is certainly nothing new to Movember. Through Movember’s current programming, the organization has worked to support this community through a variety of unique programming focused primarily on social inclusivity. Movember’s Social Innovators Challenge program, for example, focuses on finding unique and innovative ways to encourage better social connectivity for men of all ages, across all walks of life including those who have served in the military. Australian-based Soldier On and the Vet Connect program, aim to bring together male veterans and break the social isolation that can occur for some post-discharge. In the United States, Making Connections takes a similar approach, working with HopeHealth in South Carolina to create Veteran Engagement Plans to better connect and support veterans and their families who are patients of the health centre. Similarly, VetSET Nebraska works to ensure veterans returning to rural Nebraska have the support and resources they need to successfully reintegrate into their local communities.
But the work doesn’t stop there…
This Movember campaign, Movember and Midway are dedicated to changing the face of men’s health. Movember continues to be committed to supporting programs that deliver positive mental health outcomes for men and veterans around the world, setting sights on becoming a leader in funding and delivering programs that will better allow for veterans to stay mentally well and socially connected. Over the coming years, Movember will be shifting its focus to better include the veteran community, focusing on building and developing programs that will take an upstream and prevention-focused approach to improving mental health and well-being for military veterans, and first responders.
Midway is also offering a legendary prize to our incredible Mo Community, courtesy of Hawaii Tourism, Flights.ca and United Airlines. Make sure you sign up at Movember.com and start fundraising and you’ll be entered to win a week’s vacation in Waikiki to visit where key scenes from the film were shot. Contest terms and conditions can be found at this link, so you can learn more about how you can treat your Mo to a tropical vacation, just by signing up and fundraising for the 2019 Movember Campaign.
So, this Movember mobilize your Mo and head to your local theatre to see Midway, in theatres everywhere Movember 8th.
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