Movember: Why Men’s Health Matters More Than Ever

Each November, the mustache becomes more than facial hair—it becomes a symbol of advocacy. Movember, led by the Movember Foundation (formerly the Movember Institute of Men’s Health), is a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness and funding for men’s mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. https://ca.movember.com/

For many, growing a mustache is a way to spark conversations about issues that men are often conditioned to keep quiet about. For others, it’s a tribute to loved ones lost too soon. But at its core, Movember is about early detection, early intervention, and changing the social norms that prevent men from seeking help.

Why Men’s Health Requires Urgent Attention

Movember highlights a difficult but necessary truth:

Many of the health conditions impacting men are treatable when caught early.
Men, on average, are still dying 5 years younger than women, often from preventable causes.
Men remain significantly less likely to seek medical or mental health support.

This avoidance is not because men don’t care about their health, it’s because socially ingrained gender norms have taught many to endure silently, minimize symptoms, or delay reaching out until a crisis occurs.

Research in Ontario reflects this reality: 1 in 2 men report feeling isolated, and men represent approximately 75% of deaths by suicide (CMHA Halton, 2023).

These patterns are systemic. And they are changeable.

What We Know Improves Men’s Health Outcomes

1) Early medical care saves lives:

Early screening for prostate cancer can be life-saving.
For example, when prostate cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate is over 90%. Early conversations with a primary care provider matter.

2) Outdated Narratives about Masculinity Must Evolve.

The message to “tough it out” or “be a man” is not only outdated, it is unsafe. Men, trans men, and masculine-identifying individuals deserve to access care without shame or stigma. As Gee (2013) notes, masculinity is not fixed; it is socially constructed and continually evolving. This means we can redefine what it means to be “strong”: Prioritizing health, reaching out, and tending to mental well-being are acts of responsibility and courage, not weakness.

3. Meaningful Support is Available.

Reaching out can feel unfamiliar, but it is a necessary and powerful step. At VOX Mental Health, our therapists are here to support men navigating mental health concerns, stress, identity transitions, trauma, family pressures, and emotional well-being.

Connection is protective, and therapy can be a safe place to build that connection. For additional resources, “Men &” provides a directory of more than 100 programs across Ontario specializing in men’s mental health support: https://www.menand.ca/canada?province=ON