November marks Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month in the UK, a month that is dedicated to highlighting the mental health challenges that men face. Men’s mental health discussions are often stigmatised and overlook the pressures men experience. Societal expectations of stoicism and strength to the stigma surrounding vulnerability are topics men often keep to themselves. Men are less likely to seek help for mental health issues, leading to higher rates of suicide, substance abuse, and untreated mental health conditions.
Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month aims to challenge these norms and encourage open conversations about mental well-being. The month is a time to break down barriers, educate communities, and provide men with the resources and support they need to thrive mentally and emotionally.
Movember – Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month Leading Charity
During November, you have probably heard of Movember which is the leading charity changing the face of men’s mental health. Movember encourages men to grow moustaches in support of Men’s mental health showing it as a symbol for men all around the world, the charity started with 30 moustaches in 2003 and last year they reached a whopping 6 million moustaches worldwide.
Take a look at Movember’s video of changing the face of men’s mental health over 20 years here!
Here are Five things Movember recommends men should know and do when it comes to their health:
- Spend time with people who make you feel good
- Talk more, be there for someone listen, give advice it could save a life
- Know the numbers – at 50 talk to your doctor about prostate cancer and whether a PSA test is right for you
- Give your testicles a check and contact a doctor if something doesn’t feel right
- Move more by adding activity to your day
Donate to Movember here, £15 can help to deliver online mental health information to young men to support their mental health in a way that meets them where they are at, £23 will support the delivery of mental health literacy training to a parent, coach or volunteer in a community sporting club.
Xpress-Yourself Dance’s support to Men’s Mental Health awareness month
Our cool-down song this month is ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ which was written by Keane’s piano player Tim Rice-Oxley, who told the UK paper The Mirror ‘”It’s about being able to draw strength from a place or experience you’ve shared with someone. I think it’s an idea a lot of people can relate to.” We don’t have many men who attend our classes but for most of us, we have special men in our lives, husbands, brothers, uncles, sons, and friends.
At Xpress Yourself Dance CIC we want to spread awareness in our community, we have created a guess the moustache quiz to show our support to Men’s Mental Health Awareness month. Grab the important males in your life and take this time to talk, smile, and connect. Answers underneath… let us know how you get on!
Men’s Mental health is important to us here at Xpress Yourself Dance CIC and we know that getting active improves your mental health and wellbeing. Why not give one of our classes a try to improve your Mental Health, Connect with others, Get active and Have fun!
To speak with someone immediately, contact NHS 111 on 111 or contact Samaritans on 116 123.
If you’re ever worried that someone’s life is in immediate danger, call 999 or go directly to emergency services.
Xpress-Yourself Dance CIC run weekly Keep Dancing classes, suitable for older adults across, Birmingham, Solihull, Walsall, Sandwell and online. Keep Dancing will teach you dances from around the world with no need for a dance partner. Find your nearest Keep Dancing class here.
Xpress-Yourself Dance CIC also runs classes to support carers in Birmingham thanks to Funding from Forward Carers CIC. Find out more about our Keep Dancing for carers here
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