Movember, the major awareness campaign on men’s health, aims to provide information on cancers, but also on men’s mental illnesses.
Raising awareness among men about mental illnesses: this is the lesser-known part of the campaign Movember in favor of men’s health, which takes place every year in November.
Movember made its debut in France in 2012, and became known with strong symbolic actions, for example by encouraging men to grow mustaches, in order to raise funds for research on prostate cancer and testicles.
This original initiative has had the desired effect, as donations have increased fivefold in two years. However, it sometimes made them forget the other fights of the Movember foundation, in particular that which aims to strengthen psychological support and the fight against suicides of men.
Suicide rate high in men
With more than 11,000 deaths and 200,000 attempts per year, France is particularly affected by the scourge of suicide. The death rate is particularly high among men. The National Suicide Observatory, set up by the Minister of Health Marisol Touraine in 2013, published last year his first report on the subject in partnership with the Institute for Public Health Surveillance.
The differences between the sexes appear very marked. Thus, the death rate by suicide for men is 27.7 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants against 8.1 for women. This corresponds to 21 male deaths per day on average. Women are on the other hand more likely to make suicide attempts, and represent more than 60% of hospitalizations of people who have attempted suicide.
The means used to commit suicide also vary greatly. Men resort to hanging in 58% of cases and firearms in 17%. By way of comparison, women are found hanged in 37% of cases, but nearly 28% choose drugs. A weapon which is used “only” by 10% of male victims.
Innovative projects
Taking into account these inequalities in the face of suicide, and supporting men, who sometimes find it more difficult to contact specialists in the event of psychological difficulties, is a priority for the organizers of Movember. While depression is one of the most important risk factors, raising awareness about this disease is therefore one of the objectives that “mustache month” pursues.
The funds raised during the campaign could support various projects. Those who encourage men to discuss mental health outside health structures and to break the isolation in which they may find themselves, but also to develop new innovative models of psychological care, are particularly highlighted.
.
