Movember is for men’s health awareness – and the Hong Kong protests are making suicide prevention more important than ever
Improving mental health and preventing suicide are among the main tenets of Movember, particularly as the suicide rate among men is much higher than among women
As Hong Kong turns the calendar on another month of violent unrest that has divided the city and plunged mental health to crisis levels, things are about to get really hairy. And it couldn’t have come at a mo’ meaningful time.
Movember – a portmanteau of “moustache” and “November” – is once again casting a spotlight on men’s health issues by turning some of those closest to us into scruffier, more dishevelled versions of themselves.
It’s a fun, worthwhile cause that often draws sniggers and smirks, but that’s kind of the point. And right now, perhaps more than ever, Hongkongers could really use something to laugh about.
Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai knows this all too well as director of the University of Hong Kong’s Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention.
“A lot of people are thinking of leaving Hong Kong,” he said. “Negative sentiment is permeating through different sectors. It’s not just young people, it’s the whole community. Everybody is asking when it’s going to end.”
Widespread protests began in June and have only escalated in terms of violence and their impact on people’s lives. Yip has witnessed more Hongkongers seeking support to get through this difficult time: “Some of them might be demonstrators, but most of them are just watching television and seeing it, and it is disturbing, especially when we have violent scenes.”
“Men, sometimes, are more vulnerable – it’s not easy for them, seeking help,” he observed. “There are a lot of statements that men should be strong, and shouldn’t cry, because it’s seen as a sign of weakness. It’s stigmatised as not what a man is supposed to be. But we want to say that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.”
Improving mental health and preventing suicide are among the main tenets of Movember, particularly as the suicide rate among men is “three to four times” that of women, Yip said.
Those who want to get involved can visit the Movember Foundation’s official website for ways to donate and participate this month. In 16 years, the group has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects globally, including tackling prostate and testicular cancers.
Sue Toomey, executive director of the HandsOn Hong Kong non-profit group, likened the Movember cause to volunteering activities, in that it can help strengthen community ties by rallying people around a good cause. And she cited a study commissioned by her group last November that looked into the impact volunteering has on the volunteers themselves.