The Movember movement, which aims to raise awareness of men’s health issues in November, was created here in Australia — so let’s celebrate it!

It’s a month to reflect on health issues that may have affected you as a man, or a man you know and love.

So, in this post, we’re going to show you how to mark this special month, as well as highlight some common conditions that affect men’s health.

What is Movember?

Movember is a charity that champions men’s health and wellbeing. It holds a men’s health month every November to highlight some of the issues that commonly affect men and can mean that they suffer ill health or even die prematurely.

The idea of Movember was born in 2003 when two guys met up for a beer in Melbourne and started talking about the fact that the moustache had gone out of fashion. They persuaded 30 men to take up the challenge of growing a moustache for the month of November to raise awareness of men’s health issues.

Movember has been part of the Australian and global calendar ever since. Movember 2021 is full of opportunities to mark the month and to find out more about health issues that affect men.

Tell me more about men’s health issues

Movember raises awareness of a number of health issues that specifically affect men or that affect them disproportionately.

Mental health and suicide

Many men can be affected by mental health issues, including anxiety, depression and even suicidal thoughts. In fact, suicide is the leading cause of death amongst Australian males aged 15 to 44.

Recognising that men sometimes find it difficult to talk about their health, Movember encourages men to get support if they are struggling. It suggests using the ALEC model to start conversations with a man in your life about mental health:

• Ask him how’s he feeling.
• Listen to what he’s saying.
• Encourage him to take action.
• Check in to see how he’s doing.

Prostate cancer

Did you know that prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in Australian men? It affects one in seven men by the age of 75.

Symptoms include:

• The urge to urinate more frequently
• Difficulty urinating
• A weak or interrupted flow of urine
• Painful urination
• Difficulty getting an erection
• Painful ejaculation
• Blood in the semen or urine
• Pain or feeling of stiffness in the lower back, thighs or hips

It’s a good idea to go for PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing to detect changes to the prostate from the age of 50. You should go at the age of 45 if you are of African or Caribbean heritage or have a family history of prostate cancer.

Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer is the second most common cancer in men between 18 and 39. But the good news is that it can be cured with the right treatment at the right time.

Symptoms include:

• A heavy feeling in the scrotum (the sac that holds the testicles)
• A change in the shape or size of a testicle
• Uneven testicles
• Pain in the testicles, scrotum, back or stomach
• Enlargement of the breast or nipple area
• Coughing or breathlessness

Movember encourages men to check their testicles at least once a month by rolling each testicle between the finger and thumb to detect any changes. If you notice anything that doesn’t seem right, get in touch with your doctor.

How can I celebrate Movember?

There are lots of different ways to show your support for Movember in Australia.

Grow a moustache

The most obvious way to celebrate Movember is to grow a moustache throughout the month. You can get friends, family and colleagues to sponsor your efforts as well and raise money for this worthy cause.

Move for Movember

Why not run or walk 60 km over the month of November to raise awareness of the 60 men lost to suicide every hour all over the world?

Wear a wristband

Men’s health wristbands will show your support for Movember and the conditions it highlights. You can choose a comfortable and durable silicone wristband by the condition that you wish to highlight. If you suffer from this condition yourself, this will also double up as a useful medical ID wristband to give information about your health in an emergency.

You may want to get a wristband customised with your own message. You could even choose a write-on wristband that allows you to add your own words of support or information about your medical condition.

Or, if you would like to gift a loved one a medical wristband to mark Movember, you could opt for a durable stainless steel bracelet that looks stylish and is super tough.

Shop medical wristbands Australia

You can find out more about men’s health and how you can support it on the Movember website.

And if you’d like to show your support by wearing a men’s health wristband, look no further than our collection. You can choose a specific condition that is meaningful to you or even have a wristband customised with a special message.

Sometimes, simply offering your support is enough to make a real difference to a man close to you. So don’t hesitate to don your moustache or wristband this Movember to show you care.