64%

of men wait more than 7 days with symptoms before visiting the doctor.

THE STATE OF UK MEN’S HEALTH

In 2024, Movember published a game-changing report, 'The real Face of Men's Health' which outlines the state of men’s health across the UK. 

For instance, 'in the UK, a boy born in 2021 can expect to live 4 years less than a girl (World Bank, 2021). Almost 2 in 5 (39%) UK men die prematurely, before they are 75 years old, (NRS, 2021; ONS 2021; NI DoH 2021) and a boy born in the UK can expect to live around 2.6 years less than a boy born in Australia (World Bank, 2021)'.

'Where men live is a shocking indicator of how long they live. In 2018-20 in England, men in the least deprived 10% of areas lived on average 10 years longer than those in the most deprived 10% of areas (ONS, 2022a).

 

SUICIDE - ONE MAN EVERY MINUTE

5 years ago, a fellow Movember Ambassador, Marc Rowell, took his own life. This walk is in memory of a true legend and a man who prevented so many from dying by suicide by the messages of hope he spread, despite his own pain.. We are continuing his work and honouring his memory.

Globally, 1 man every minute takes his own life.

'As Movember's report states: 'In England, the suicide rate is three times higher for men than women (ONS, 2023a), and among men aged 20-34 years suicide is the leading cause of death (ONS, 2023b). The statistics are moving in the wrong direction with a 6% rise in suicides (predominantly among middle-aged men) in 2023 with a clear gap between the UK’s north and south – after accounting for age, the rate of male suicide in the North East was over double the rate in London.

IT'S VERY PERSONAL

Back in 2010 James, the founder of the walk, was on the brink of suicide. He struggled with anxiety and depression for many years and had been the subject of intense bullying at school and at work. He had written a plan and was it not for a chance phone call, it is unlikely he would be here now.

Once he was released from hospital, James was determined to  make a difference and to help stop other men feel as lonely, desperate and worthless as he did in his darkest days.

James has been fundraising and campaigning tirelessly for Movember for 15 years and has been a Community Ambassador for six. He has undertaken a few crazy challenges (running 13km a day for the whole of Movember) but this one is definitely going to be the toughest yet! 

SUPPORTING MOVEMBER

Twenty years ago, a bristly idea was born in Melbourne, Australia, igniting a movement, known as Movember, uniting people from all walks of life and sparking billions of important conversations, raising vital funds, and shattering the silence surrounding men’s health issues.

Since 2003, they have challenged the status quo, shaken up men’s health research and transformed the way that health services reach and support men. Taking on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention, with unwavering determination.

They have raised over £790M for men’s health, critical funds that have delivered more than 1,300 men’s health projects around the world. Funding hundreds of biomedical research projects and developing some of the largest prostate cancer registries in the world, based on the real-life experiences of hundreds of thousands of men. Since taking on mental health and suicide prevention in 2006, Movember has emphasised the importance of better social connections, early recognition of what men’s poor mental health looks like, and how clinicians can better respond to men in distress.

And they are taking on governments globally, seeing success in 2024 when the UK Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting announced plans at a Men’s Health Summit for the first ever men's health strategy. 

For more information on work and UK project supported please visit Movember's website here

WE WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE:

  • Improve mens' health literacy.
  • Change how men think about their health.
  • Remove barriers that stop men seeking help.
  • Change stereotypes regards men's health.
  • Help to stop men engaging in risky behaviours.
  • Promote happier and healthier men and communities

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the UK. Globally, more than 1.4 million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Across the UK, there are more than 395,000 men living with and beyond the disease.

Movember have an awesome resource call True North where you can find the information that matters most to you in your prostate cancer journey.

TESTICULAR CANCER

Testicular cancer is the #1 cancer in younger guys. But good news: it's highly curable when caught early.

Movember draws attention to nuts as boldly and loudly as possible, encouraging young men to ‘Know Thy Nuts’ and giving them the tools they need to do so.

To 'Know Thy Nuts' is to understand what’s normal and what’s not for your nuts, how to check them and what to do if something doesn’t feel right.

A fantastic resource for anyone to use is the Nuts & Bolts website, which has the tools you need to confidently handle the testicular cancer journey. from diagnosis, to treatment, to life afterwards.