Movember is the name of the collective growing out of moustaches across the month of November. It’s to raise awareness for pressing issues affecting men such as testicular and prostate cancer, mental health and suicide.

In 2018 6,859 people committed suicide in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Thee highest suicide rate in England is among men aged 45-49. Across the whole UK has men being more at risk with the age with the highest rate being between 35 and 64. According to the Samaritans Report, “In the UK men remain three times more likely to take their own lives than women, and in the Republic of Ireland four times more likely.”

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men with yearly more than 47,500 men being diagnosed. That’s 129 men diagnosed every day. And every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer. It’s a fight that 1 in 8 men will face in their life time.

Testicular cancer while not as common as prostate is diagnosed on over 2,400 men in the UK every year. Testicular cancer in England and Wales has a 98% survival rate with only 64 deaths being attributed to it between 2015 and 2017.

The money raised by Movember goes towards helping projects aimed at supporting men and raising awareness across 20 countries. There are thousands of men across the world growing out their moustaches here are some of the results this far.

If you suffer from suicidal thoughts please call the Samaritans on 116 123 open 24 hours 7 days a week.