For the past two decades, November has transformed into a month of camaraderie and awareness for men’s health across Canada, with individuals proudly sporting moustaches. This initiative, spearheaded by Movember, encourages men to embrace the challenge of growing a “Mo” starting on November 1. Friends, colleagues, and even staunch critics have joined the fun, cultivating a community focused on raising awareness for critical health issues facing men.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Movember’s campaign in Canada, introducing the “Make a Growmitment” initiative. This creative twist invites Canadians of all genders and ages to actively engage in supporting men’s health. According to Todd Minerson, Movember’s country director for Canada, the movement has evolved beyond the moustache itself. “After 20 years, we’ve learned that the most powerful thing about Movember was never really the moustache. It was what the moustache started,” he stated.
The “Make a Growmitment” encourages participants to grow moustaches, engage friends in the challenge, or take part in physical activities like running or walking 60 kilometers throughout November. This particular initiative symbolizes the alarming statistic that nearly 60 men lose their lives to suicide every hour worldwide. Social gatherings dubbed “Host a Mo-ment” also encourage like-minded individuals to come together in support of this cause. Registration for Growmitment is open to all, allowing individuals to donate and promote men’s health check-ups for prostate or testicular cancer.
The gravity of this initiative is underscored
The gravity of this initiative is underscored by lasting health concerns. In 2023, nearly 75,000 men in Canada died prematurely, accounting for a staggering 44 percent of male deaths that year. Many of these fatalities were preventable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada highlights suicide as the second leading cause of death for men aged 15 to 39, with men making up approximately 75 percent of suicide cases in Canada.
Minerson further explained that when men seek care, they often do so through emergency departments rather than planned visits. The funds raised during Movember are essential for financing research, developing programs aimed at men’s unique needs, and training healthcare providers to better support men in crisis.
The economic toll of poor men’s health in Canada is enormous, costing the country up to $12.4 billion in avoidable illnesses and premature deaths each year—a sum significant enough to fund over a dozen large hospitals for a year.
In a historic move, the federal government introduced
In a historic move, the federal government introduced its first National Men and Boys’ Health Strategy, announcing Movember as the independent partner for national consultations. The strategy aims to learn from international approaches to men’s health, improving care quality, particularly the initial healthcare encounter. According to Movember’s findings, over half of the men surveyed reported barriers to effective care, including rushed appointments and feeling dismissed by healthcare providers.
Catherine Corriveau, Movember’s director of policy and advocacy, emphasized the need for renewed focus on men’s health as a public priority. “We’ve tended to address individual diseases or health challenges without necessarily considering how gender influences health outcomes, help-seeking behaviors, or access to care,” she noted.
Since 2011, the Movember community has raised over $330 million across Canada, with more than 40,000 individuals raising hundreds of thousands in a single year for prostate cancer initiatives. Funds from these initiatives have gone towards programs aimed at mental fitness for young athletes and culturally-tailored education on early detection for higher-risk communities, such as Indigenous peoples and Black men.
Minerson concluded, Success means more Canadians recognizing
Minerson concluded, “Success means more Canadians recognizing that men’s health is something we all have a stake in. If we can create momentum that carries into year-round work, placing men’s health squarely on the national agenda, that’s an initiative worth celebrating.”
For those interested in contributing to this significant cause, the Make a Growmitment campaign provides various avenues for participation, from growing a moustache to running for mental health awareness. Canadians can register for the initiative or donate to the movement through the Movember website.
