Movember

Movemeber is the most successful men’s health initiative – bar none. It generated close to 3 billion discussions during its 2012 run. I don’t know how they counted the conversations but – non-the-less it’s a lot of awareness. It is positive action in support of men’s health. You don’t have to wear anything weird. Just stop shaving under your nose – simple. For the follically gifted the results can be wonderfully artistic.

The Canadian campaign supports all of Movembers global priority areas, men’s health, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health. It started over a beer in a pub in Australia. Most pub talk doesn’t (thankfully) result in action, but this did. Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, waxed philosophical and questioned the disappearance of the moustache. The next logical steps along the path of inquiry was an idea, a challenge, and action. “Lets bring it back,” they said. “Lets raise some money for prostate cancer and men’s health in the process,” Cheers mate! And they did. They talked the talk, and walked the walk.

I’d argue that most people in the men’s health business know that men are not very good at looking after themselves. Men have adapted far more than women in their unique ability to studiously ignore their health. Movember shines as an example of action that creates positive change.

Absurde stigmas surround men’s health, and raising awareness is a significant part in eradicating the destructive beliefs. Stigma has rendered men into emotional weaklings, and it causes serious health problems as a direct result. We need to engineer a shift in social evolution, and with the fundraising of Movember it becomes possible. With awareness, change becomes possible. This year Movember will have raised over half a billion dollars for men’s health.

This year’s theme is ‘Generation Mo’. Support the Mo Bros and Mo Sistas.