Movember – Supporting Men’s Health

Movember really strikes a chord with me, I have suffered with severe depression my entire adult life, with the stresses and strains of life and work, trauma, financial worries and other matters. I used to do the typical male thing of burying the issues believing I could cope on my own. I truly felt that I shouldn’t burden other people with my problems and that I was alone in these issues. This came to a head, as my mental got progressively worse, that in December 2018, I attempted suicide.

I felt embarrassed to admit that I had mental health issues, I felt I was weak and less of a man for reaching out and asking for help. And that was my problem. If only I had reached out earlier, it wouldn’t of nearly cost me my life. This is the reason I am doing Movember, if my story can help, or encourage another bro to seek out help before it is too late, then Me looking like a late 80’s/early 90’s disgruntled Tv detective will have been worth it. In essence, I’m growing a Mo to save a Bro. This is where the charity event, Movember comes in, it is vital that more services are developed which are tailored to the needs of men and that these are effectively promoted to encourage men to access mental health support early on in their experience of distress. To make it known that it IS ok to open up and talk about things, it does NOT make you weak or any less of a man to ask for help. Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men’s health, as they know what works for men, and what doesn’t. Movember looks at mental health through a male lens, focusing on prevention early intervention and health promotion.

I know times are hard, but every donation to this charity, no matter how small, could save the life of a father, brother, mate or lover. Believe me when I say this, I’d rather sit for an hour and hear your troubles, than sit for an hour and hear your eulogy.

Cal

I am doing the Movember Charity event because when I saw the data on Male suicide, I was shocked and wanted to do something to try and change this. Roughly 87 men a month take their own life? This isn’t right and needs to change immediately. For me I was pretty nervous about getting rid of my beard, as this is the first time I haven’t had a beard for all but 4 years but when I weighed it up against helping to prevent a bro taking a life it was never in doubt, I would do it.

I’m growing a Mo and to save a Bro.

For me, I have grown a moustache every year for the last 8 years but only once have I done it officially. However, with what’s going on in the world at the moment I wanted to do this to raise awareness of men’s mental health issues.

Stu and Andy taking part in Movember at 034 Woodstock Food store. If you would like to donate to their cause click here.

"Andy and I wanted to get involved after speaking to some of our male customers and colleagues who have found the whole Covid-19 experience really hard. A lot of the time it's just someone to talk to and share their issues."