International Men’s Day (IMD) and Movember: What are they and how can you get involved?
November is a time for everyone to turn their attention to men’s health issues and help change the stigma around men seeking help for a variety of health issues.
Two initiatives that take centre stage during this month are International Men’s Day and Movember, both of which aim to spotlight these issues and inspire crucial conversations capable of changing lives of men everywhere.
International Men’s Day
Every year, International Men’s Day is celebrated by 80 countries worldwide on 19 November. This year’s theme ‘Men’s Health Champions’ will highlight the problems of men’s health as well as the people delivering the solutions.
As part of this year’s IMD theme, four sub-themes have been created to help hammer home the initiatives message. These are:
- Building healthy communities – which celebrates those who help build healthy communities where men and boys can thrive
- Look out for your mates – which encourages everyone to reach out to and check in on the men in their lives
- Take action, stay healthy – which is a rallying cry to inspire Australians to partake in activities that make their lives happier and healthier
- Creating a healthier future – which serves as a critical reminder that men’s health is a social issue, not an individual one
Additionally, IMD has six objectives it aims to work towards:
- Valuing male role models
- Acknowledging the contribution of men and boys
- Improving male health
- Tackling discrimination and disadvantage
- Fostering positive gender relations
- Making the world a safer place for everyone
It is a time to celebrate boys and men while highlighting the key social issues males face which in Australia include:
- 3 out of 4 suicides are men
- 2 out of 3 violent deaths are men
- On average men die six years younger than women
- Boys underperform girls at every stage of education
- Dads wanting to be more involved in their children’s lives face a range of barriers
Men and boys face a range of physical, mental and social health issues. Despite this, some still promote a range of rigid gendered stereotypes, including phrases like ‘man up’ and boys don’t cry’ that are counterproductive to promoting good health among Australian males.
Is International Men’s Day really for everyone?
Yes, everybody is welcome to celebrate International Men’s Day this year and every year.
IMD recognises the presence of a broad variety of laws, values, and viewpoints worldwide that impact men and boys in different ways. A diversity of opinions exists about these laws, values, and viewpoints.
IMD emphasises on those factors that unite humanity and provide everyone who wants to celebrate the occasion an opportunity to work together towards the day’s six objectives, all of which apply equally to all males regardless of age, ability, social background, legal status, race, beliefs, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
How to take part in International Men’s Day
Everyone can take part in this year’s International Men’s Day, while events can also be held before or after 19 November.
You can take part in IMD by:
- Creating an event and promoting it on the initiative’s event calendar
- Use the events calendar to find an event to attend
- Utilise resources to get involved in online conversations about IMD
- Give a talk about men using IMD’s Know Your Man Facts Toolkits
- Use the hashtag #HealthyMen
Movember
Movember is one of the most popular men’s health awareness initiatives in the world. Each November, millions of people across the globe grow moustaches, great and small, to raise funds for several men’s health issues.
Since its inception in 2003, Movember has grown each year to the point it is now – the world’s leading charity for men’s health issues. The organisation’s four primary focus areas are:
- Mental health
- Suicide prevention
- Prostate cancer
- Testicular cancer
Movember’s aim is to change the approach taken to men’s health and ensure males across the globe have the tools to help improve their health and live longer lives. According to the organisation’s website, men die 4.5 years earlier than women, on average, largely due to preventable causes.
A 2024 study, titled ‘The Real Face of Men’s Health 2024 Australian Report’, commissioned by Movember found two in five Australian men die prematurely (before the age of 75), with suicide the leading cause of death among men aged 15-44 years.
Men are more likely to engage in risky behaviours, such as alcohol and drug use, while several of the leading causes of death for men between 2020 and 2022 – coronary heart disease, lung cancer, suicide, colorectal cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – are all avoidable.
Getting involved with Movember
There are several ways individuals can get involved in Movember. The most obvious avenue being growing out a moustache throughout the entire month of November, all while raising valuable funds for the organisation’s cause.
Additionally, individuals can sign up to Move for Mental Health, which invites participants to move 60kms for the 60 men lost to suicide worldwide each hour throughout November. There are also options to fundraise at work or host an event in honour of Movember.
Proceeds raised during the Movember movement go towards funding various men’s health projects. To date, the organisation has funded over 1,300 projects in 20 countries.
For more information on how to get involved in fundraising for this year’s Movember, click here.
