Movember is a month-long event to grow awareness for men’s mental and physical health. The topic of men’s health is often neglected, primarily due to society’s enforcement of negative stereotypes. These stereotypes include the belief that “men don’t cry” and stem from toxic masculinity that is very prominent today. However, regardless of these stereotypes, mental and physical health issues that men face are serious and deserve validation and attention. In the month of November, many people grow out their mustaches to spread awareness for this cause since it is often not talked about.
Here at St. Paul’s, many students, teachers, faculty, and staff are participating in Movember by growing out their mustaches. One of the leaders of this event is senior George Bezhanishvili. I had the privilege to speak to him about this event and how everyone can get involved. George explains that “men’s mental health is underlooked,” even as the dialogue around mental health expands, “and it is just seen as not important, so I thought that [participating in Movember was] a good way for me to show that I cared about it…so I did it every year.”
Along with encouraging students to grow out their mustaches in November, St. Paul’s also has a mental health awareness club. George explains, “I’m actually one of the co-founders of it. We started that club our sophomore year, when we were on virtual [Microsoft] Teams, and it was literally me, a senior, [and] my friend James, and it was [us] three and Miss Villet, our guidance counselor, in a meeting…just talking about these kinds of issues that were just important.” Since his sophomore year, the club has grown into one of the most popular clubs at SP, with new members at every meeting. “Every week,” George says, “we just talk about an issue or just ask how people’s days are going. It’s very wholesome, to be honest.” The club normalizes the conversation about mental health for men by having these simple conversations. By talking casually with one another and opening up about issues and topics of concern, SP Students connect on a deeper level.
In addition to growing a mustache, walks and runs are also common events to spread awareness for Movember. By participating in Movember, you can become a “Mo-Sister” or “Mo-Bro.” Anyone can spread awareness by bringing up these difficult conversations by simply asking someone how they are doing. There are organizations such as Movember, Heads Up Guys, and Active Minds, that raise money to grow funding for testicular cancer, suicide prevention, and other mental health issues. Suicide is the seventh leading cause of death in mean, and four times as many men die from suicide than women. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness and money for these causes and organizations around Men’s mental and physical health.
Here at St. Paul’s, we need to keep in mind the mental and physical health of our friends, family, teachers, and staff and bring up the topics of mental and physical health to normalize the conversation. By doing so, we can start to dispel the stigma around this sometimes uncomfortable, but ever-important, topic, and make everyone in our community feel more heard and loved.
Organizations and Helpful Websites
Movember Organization
Active Minds Organization
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