Moustache November better known as “Movember” is an annual event held every November to help raise awareness of health issues that affect men. For 30 days, Mo – Bros (Moustache brothers) grow mustaches without shaving them off. During this month whatever amount of money a Mo-brother would have used at the barber shop, one is advised to instead donate it to the Movember charity.
Some Focus Areas of Movember
1. Cancer
Malignancy commonly known as cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. It is a disease that knows no boundaries nor status. A recent case that shook the world to its core was the passing of the Black Panther star, who succumbed to colon cancer. Movember however, focuses particularly on prostate and testicular cancer.
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Prostate cancer: is one of the most common cancers in men. It occurs in a small gland known as the prostate. This gland is what is tasked with the responsibility of producing the seminal fluids that transport and nourish sperm. Some of the symptoms of prostate cancer include: low force in your urine stream, erectile dysfunction and pelvic area discomfort among others.
- Testicular cancer: although rare compared to other types of cancers that affect men, it is still very harmful. This type of cancer occurs in the testes, which are housed in the scrotum. Testicles are the organs responsible for producing sperm and male sex hormones. Symptoms include: a lump in one of the testicles, pain in the scrotum or testicles and fluid in the scrotum.
2. Mental Health
Mental health disorders or illnesses are a range of conditions that affect your behavior, mood or thinking pattern. Some examples of mental illnesses include:
- Addictive behaviors
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- PTSD
Please keep in mind that mental illnesses can be very hard on people and so we are encouraged to be thoughtful and kind to our Mo-brothers.
3. Suicide prevention
Health professionals have noted that some disorders in men can be hard to recognize since a lot of us like to keep things to ourselves. We refrain from speaking out since we assume it will make us look weak. While mental illnesses affect both men and women, men are more likely to die by suicide than women.
Non-disclosure by men plays a major role in the variance. This is because some suicide prevention efforts largely depend and rely heavily on the disclosure of suicidal ideation in order to stop it. So as hard as it might be, please let’s try to talk to someone. Whether it’s about our bills, kids, finances, setbacks or any other struggle that we could be facing. We are encouraged to speak out, share our thoughts and be more social so that these disorders do not develop into suicidal thoughts.
Conclusion
As you can see, Movember entails a lot more than just growing a moustache for 30 days. Lives can be saved, relationships can be restored and lives can be made easier for our brothers. In our follow up articles we’ll talk about how we can all help each other, including our Mo-sisters.
Words: Mark Odecho