Movember: New Face of Men’s Health

Movember: New Face of Men’s Health

Are you or others in your workplace taking part in Movember (“Moustache” plus “November”), a global men’s health event? Males pledge to grow their ‘staches for the month, getting donations from friends, family and co-workers in the process. In effect, they become a walking, talking billboard in order to raise awareness and money to address men’s health issues.

Participants are nicknamed “Mo Bros” and they’re often aided by “Mo Sistas.” Their aim is to shine a spotlight on men’s diseases, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer — the obvious ones — and the not so obvious ones, such as depression and suicide.

Getting “mind share” isn’t easy as there are many other worthy health organizations trying to do the same thing. According to Healthfinder.gov, November is a busy National Health Observance month. Here are just some of the events we’re celebrating this month:Lung Cancer Awareness Month; Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month; American Diabetes Month; National Epilepsy Awareness Month; Great American Smokeout (American Cancer Society); American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month, and so on.

The Aussies who started Movember in 2003 just for fun, then saw the power to do good using humor and the power of brotherhood. The next year they decided to get serious by fundraising for men’s health. The Movember Foundation is now one of the fastest-growing health NGO’s.

This year they’re highlighting gender disparities in health and longevity. Consider these statistics from their website:

*Around the world, on average, men die almost six years earlier than women.

*Globally, a man dies every minute from suicide.

*Recently, the World Health Organization bulletin on men’s health states, “Health outcomes among men and boys continue to be substantially worse than among girls and women, yet this gender-based inequality in health has received little national, regional or global acknowledgement or attention from health policy-makers or health-care providers.”

*On the whole, women are outliving men by an average of almost six years.

Nurses have always been huge educators about health and well-being. Getting involved in efforts to reduce these gender disparities would boost everyone’s health.

Jebra Turner is a writer in Portland, Oregon. She works in communications Anthro Corporation and blogs about workplace health at www.anthro.com..

November is Great for “Mo” Awareness

November is Great for “Mo” Awareness

According to Healthfinder.gov, November is a busy National Health Observance month. Here are just some of the events we’re celebrating this month:

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

American Diabetes Month

National Epilepsy Awareness Month

Diabetic Eye Disease Month

Great American Smokeout (American Cancer Society)

National Child Mental Health Month

Healthy Skin Month

American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month

Whew! And that’s not including all the monthly observances, or any of the special awareness days and weeks, such as Emphysema Awareness Week.

It can make your head spin to think about so many health conditions, but what a great way to focus attention on these issues, raise funds, encourage early detection — and eventually even save lives.

My vote for most humorous and engaging initiative, though, has got to go to Movember (“Moustache” plus “November”), a global men’s health event. Males start the month clean-shaven and grow their ‘staches for 30 days, getting donations from friends, family and co-workers along the way. In effect, they’re walking, talking billboards raising awareness and money, while having a good time unleashing their inner Tom Selleck.

Have you noticed there are more moustaches sprouting in your workplace? Might be some “Mo Bros” among you. Most likely they’re aided by “Mo Sistas.” That’s the nickname for participants in the health charity’s endeavor to raise awareness of men’s diseases, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and depression.

According to the Movember website, three million participants have raised more than $446 million for research, education and outreach. In fact, in 2012, the Global Journal listed Movember as one of the top 100 NGOs (non-government organization) in the world.

The Aussies who started Movember in 2003 were just having a good laught with friends, but the next year they decided to get serious by fundraising for men’s health. They were inspired by the way women led the charge to find a cure for breast cancer, so they followed suit with men’s cancers.

If Movember seems too flippant for such serious issues, never fear. You only have to wait until June, when this nation celebrates Men’s Health Month. No moustaches required.

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