September 11, 2017
Running
By MoRunning
SUPPORT THE MOVEMBER FOUNDATION AND MEN’S HEALTH
Global estimates indicate that over half a million men die by suicide each year. In many countries, male suicide is fully three times higher than that of women.
The statistics are startling. We also know that men are less likely to share their feelings, and tell friends when they’re struggling.
This September 10th, to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day, The Movember Foundation has launched a campaign that aims to encourage men to seek help when they need it. Not only that, Movember aims to encourage others to reach out and listen to the men in their lives, whether they are a mate, husband, brother or colleague. Called ‘Unmute. Ask him’ the campaign encourages the people around men to take themselves off mute and ask a man if he’s doing O.K.
The Movember Foundation is committed to reducing the rate of male suicide by 25% by the year 2030. Thanks to an incredible community of fundraisers, including MoRunners everywhere, Movember has supported 135 programs around the world to help men stay mentally well, cope with the stresses of life and build strong relationships to support them.
The default setting on Facebook and Instagram is for videos to play out with the sound off. This provided the perfect opportunity to get the message across that that you need to take an active approach to listening if you’re going to understand the full story. Disguised as a series of how-to videos where a man takes the viewer through simple tasks - such as ‘Beer can chicken’, ‘Make a soda can fishing rod’ and ‘Never run out of a gas again with this simple trick’ – each video demonstrates the importance of taking the initiative to ask men how they are really doing, and not just assuming everything is O.K.
We can all play a part in this. Whether you’re a friend, a partner, a family member or a colleague of someone who’s finding things difficult or overwhelming. You don’t need to be an expert in mental health, and you don’t need to be able to solve everyone’s problems - just being there to hear someone out and encourage them to explore their options to make things better can make the world of difference. To get that conversation started, sometimes the first step is to ask.
Please help us get this important message out there. Check the videos out below or find them on Facebook and share them.
And after that – please - take yourself off mute and ask a man how he’s doing.
Sign-up and fundraise for the Movember Foundation with MoRunning: https://www.justgiving.com/movember
For information and ways to get help, check out:
