‘You’re not alone’: Montrealer takes part in Movember to raise awareness about men’s health
“I just want to raise awareness,” said Nando Musano, a Montrealer taking part in Movember for the third consecutive year to support men’s physical and mental health and encourage others to speak up. Adriana Gentile reports.
Posted November 14, 2026 3:52 pm.
It’s the message Montrealer Nando Musano wants men to hear as he takes part in Movember for the third consecutive year.
For Musano, the annual campaign is about more than fundraising. It’s an opportunity to challenge the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and encourage men to speak openly about what they’re going through.
“I just want to raise awareness. I feel like men’s health is very important and especially for the mental side of things,” he said.
The issue also hits close to home. Musano thinks about his grandfather, a Second World War veteran who rarely expressed his emotions. He remembers him as a quiet man and wonders whether there were experiences he never felt comfortable sharing.
“If I could go back in time I would definitely ask him how he felt and if there’s anything he ever wanted to talk about and just, you know, be there for him,” Musano said.
Now, he hopes to help create an environment where men feel comfortable sharing their stories and know someone is willing to listen.
“It’s important to get that awareness around and just spread it so people know that even though they’re alone they have a story to tell and even though someone’s not listening, someone will be there to listen,” he said.
Challenging generations of silence
Movember is the world’s largest men’s health charity, raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.
Evan Connor, associate director of development at Movember, says the organization also works to change long-standing behaviours that have prevented men from seeking support.
“The way we do that is by raising funds and awareness for each of these cause areas, bringing together the brightest minds and really trying to change historical behaviours of men that have maybe prevented them from seeking support with their physical or mental well-being,” Connor said.
He says many men have grown up believing they should take care of everyone else before looking after themselves.
On the mental health side, stereotypes about masculinity can make it particularly difficult to admit when something is wrong.
Comments such as “man up,” “suck it up” and “real men don’t cry” may seem harmless to some, but Connor says they can have lasting consequences.
“If you hear enough of it, it starts to become ingrained and normalized,” he said.
Connor says Movember wants to challenge those expectations and encourage men to see vulnerability as a strength rather than a weakness.
“Those one-off comments, they do have a lasting effect,” he said. “So we’re really trying to flip those behaviours on their head … reinforcing, like, it’s okay to not be okay.”
It’s an attitude Musano also wants to challenge.
“I want to try to break that barrier and say it’s okay you can still be stoic and express your emotions and talk to people about how you’re feeling,” he said.
The numbers behind the conversation
The need for those conversations is significant.
According to Movember, men account for three-quarters of suicide deaths in Canada. Globally, the organization says one man dies by suicide every minute.
The charity also focuses on physical health, including prostate and testicular cancer.
Connor says one in nine Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. He encourages men to speak with their doctors about prostate health and whether screening is appropriate.
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men between the ages of 15 and 39.
Connor says awareness is especially important because younger men may not think of cancer as something that could affect them.
Last year, the campaign raised about $20 million across Canada. Connor says the personal stories and connections that emerge during the campaign are just as important.
“It’s those conversations, it’s those moments where you get out in the community, and you hear people sharing why they do Movember. That’s the inspiration and that’s kind of the motivator for all of us that really keeps us pushing along,” he said.
More than a month of awareness
Musano’s own fundraising campaign got off to a strong start after his employer donated $2,500 following a workplace fitness challenge.
He raised another $1,100 through friends and family, bringing his total to more than $3,600 at the time of the interview.
While he regularly encourages people in his circle to donate, he says his motivation goes beyond reaching a fundraising goal.
Movember offers several ways to participate, including growing a moustache, taking on a physical challenge to move 60 kilometres over the month, organizing an event or making a donation.
The campaign is open to everyone, regardless of gender.
Connor says November is meant to plant a seed, with conversations continuing long after the campaign ends.
He points to the holiday season, which follows Movember, as a particularly important time to check in on loved ones. While it can be a joyful period for many, it can also be lonely and difficult for others.
He encourages people to make time for one another, put down their phones and check in with the people in their lives.
In his eight years working with Movember, Connor says he has seen how one conversation can make a difference.
“It starts with one conversation that could potentially be life-saving,” he said.
A reminder that it’s OK to ask for help
For Musano, the message is simple: if you’re struggling, reach out to someone you trust.
“Honestly, if you’re feeling down just reach out to anyone — your best friend, your father, your mother, anyone,” he said.
“It doesn’t have to be a man to man. It can be to anyone you feel close to.”
Through Movember, Musano hopes to encourage more people to check in on the men in their lives and remind them that they don’t have to face difficult moments alone.
While November brings added attention to men’s health, he hopes those conversations continue throughout the year.
More information about the campaign, ways to participate and men’s health re
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