The European Commission has marked Movember, the annual global awareness campaign on men’s mental health held every November, with a post reminding followers that the month is about more than growing a moustache. Men can cry, ask for help, feel lonely, see a therapist, talk about their feelings, connect with others, feel insecure and struggle, the Commission said. It stressed that gender roles do not define who they are.
The Commission’s message
“Growing a moustache is just the beginning. This Movember, let’s talk about men’s mental health. Social pressures can make it harder for men to open up or ask for help. It’s time to challenge the stigma and talk about men’s mental health, to make it feel more normal. The EU is working to promote mental well-being, prevent mental health problems and improve access to quality, affordable mental healthcare. Because talking about mental health matters,” the Commission said.
What is Movember
Movember is an annual global awareness campaign held every November. During the campaign, men grow a moustache for 30 days to open up the conversation on important men’s health issues and to raise funds for them.
The name combines “Mo”, Australian slang for moustache, and “November”.
The campaign is usually built around three main pillars:
- Mental health: encouraging men to break social taboos, speak openly about their feelings and seek help when they need it
- Prostate cancer: raising awareness of the need for regular screening and supporting research into treatment
- Testicular cancer: informing men about the importance of self-examination and early diagnosis, as the disease often affects younger men
With information from the European Commission
