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GROW AND GROOM A MO TO UNITE AND OVERCOME LOCKDOWN ISOLATION

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28 October 2020 – The hairiest month of the year is here! Now more than ever Mo Bros and Mo Sisters need to join Movember – the global movement that’s Changing the Face of Men’s Health – and Grow, Host or MOVE to help raise funds and awareness for men’s health issues such as depression, suicide prevention as well as prostate and testicular cancer.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our world upside down and continues to devastate people’s lives. Job losses, nancial instability, emotional strain and health struggles are taking their toll on all men,” says Garron Gsell, chief executive and founder of the Men’s Foundation, which manages the Movember campaign in South Africa under license from the Global Movember Foundation.

Gsell adds that the pandemic has emphasised issues such as loneliness, depression, isolation and prostate and testicular cancer, which is why Movember 2020 is more relevant than ever.

A month-long campaign that starts ‘growing’ from this Sunday, the 1st of November, Movember looks at mental health through a male lens, focusing on prevention, early intervention and health promotion, working towards men taking action to be mentally well, while being supported by those around them. The campaign sees men across the globe change their appearance by growing a moustache for 30 days to help raise awareness on these issues.

“The pandemic has urgently brought into focus the need to have open conversations and empower men to address their physical and mental health issues. Traditionally men have adopted a ‘head in the sand’ approach to deal with it, but we can’t a ord this any longer,” says Gsell.

Currently, men in South Africa have a life expectancy that is seven years’ shorter than that of women. The Men’s Foundation aims to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25% by 2030. Furthermore, prostate cancer rates will double in the next 15 years. Testicular cancer rates have already doubled in the last 50 years, while three quarters of suicides are men. Poor mental health leads to half a million men taking their own life every year. That’s one every minute.

“Globally, one man dies every minute of every day, while in South Africa, male suicide accounts for approximately 18 deaths per day. We cannot sit back and accept this.”

Gsell is calling for support from men, women and companies who are investing into sta wellness programmes or helping men to get back on their feet after having gone through tough times in 2020. “Now is the time to mobilise to support and equip men who are struggling to overcome challenges unique to them. Sign up to Movember and help spread the message that ‘it’s ok to not be ok’ and commit 30 days of Movember to either Grow, Move or Host,” concludes Gsell. Sign up as a Mo Bro or Mo Sister at www.za.movember.com and nd out more as to how you can make a di erence and change the face of men’s health. Download the Movember app on your mobile device. Follow Movember on social media: @MovemberRSA on Twitter or facebook/MovemberSouthAfrica. All funds raised will go to awareness campaigns, research and survivor programmes linked to men’s health in South Africa.

** What the Men’s Foundation is doing in 2020 to make a di erence ? ** The Men’s Foundation has developed several mental health support programs, which they aim to fund through this Movember campaign as well as corporate contributions. This includes ‘Conquer the Curve’®, which is a podcast and webinar series featuring renowned counselling psychologist Dr Hanan Bushkin, Founder of the Anxiety and Trauma Clinic, and a specialist in the treatment of anxiety disorders and trauma related conditions.

As an advocate for Men’s Health and as a member of the Cancer Alliance, the Men’s Foundation has also been acknowledged for its contribution in developing rst ever Policy and Guidelines for treating prostate cancer to be published next year by the Department of Health.

Who should get involved in Movember ? ** Mo Bro’s are encouraged to start 1 Movember clean shaven. Grow throughout the month, and get some serious funds behind the men who need it most. Mo Sisters, make a di erence in the lives of the men in your life! Get behind the Mo Bro’s in your life, adopt a Mo Bro in the o ce, help organise the teams, auction o their moustaches, or get a little creative and organise an event. Anything to attract attention and raise funds while having fun.

Mo Bro’s or Mo Sisters, do something good for you, while doing something great for men’s health. Move this Movember, and you can be the di erence in a man’s life. Walk, run, cycle, swim or row. A little or a lot. Solo or in a team. It’s not about being the ttest or going the furthest. It’s about havin’ fun, doin’ good, by raising funds along the way.

How to get involved in Movember

It’s time to take action: 1. Sign up to help raise awareness and make a di erence. Whatever you grow will save a Bro, whether it’s the First One, the Itchy One, the Salt & Pepper One, they all ght prostate and testicular cancer, as well as male depres-