How Movember urges men to start important conversations about mental health
Poor mental health is on the increase and many men are afraid to talk about it or seek help. Movember encourages troubled men to open up
It is November, often called Movember after the charity that raises awareness of men’s mental and physical health in this month. Men around the globe are invited to grow a moustache to symbolise healthier men, and as a means to get people talking – including to healthcare professionals.
Research from many countries suggests men’s mental health is in decline.
A May 2025 study from the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation found that 64 per cent of participants suffered with moderate-to-high stress (up 4 per cent in one year), 23 per cent were at risk of moderate to severe depression (up 4 per cent in one year), and half were at risk of social isolation. Yet 67 per cent had never sought professional help.
According to Movember, rates of poor mental health among men in the United States have risen by 85 per cent among those aged 30 to 34 over the past decade. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of premature death among American men, who are 3.6 times more likely to die by suicide than women.
In Hong Kong, the male suicide rate has been rising since 2020; 2024’s figure was 20.8 per 100,000 males, more than double the female suicide rate. Yet according to the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong, 63 per cent of men canvassed as part of a survey said they would not seek help for fear of being judged, perceived as weak or feeling embarrassed.
Counsellor Michael Beckham, a member of the Hong Kong Psychological Society, believes this is the result of men having to conform to the social construct of being strong and not needing help, which “steers men away from addressing their mental health issues”.