The Movember Foundation hosted their annual November event during the period. Men are encouraged to grow a moustache during the month of November to raise awareness of male health issues and encourage donations.  Often associated with prostrate and testicular cancer, the charity also has a strong focus on suicide prevention and men’s mental health and have funded more than 1250 mental health projects in the UK and around the world.

The following mental health and suicide prevention projects are taking place all year round in the UK and involve collaboration with local health partners and charity groups. Movember aims to reduce the rate of male suicide by 25{08402cc4e02dcaebae1e086294c932f9e8c0e4836b71c17abd5ce9cddb0123b9} by the year 2030.

• The Social Innovators Challenge funds creative programmes aimed at restoring and strengthening the social connections of men, particularly those at risk for loneliness and isolation.  Current funding supports the scaling and piloting of innovative projects in three countries: Australia, Canada and the UK.
• The Changing Room brings together the Scottish Professional Football League Trust and Hibernian Football club to engage with men in the heart of the community and to encourage them to take better action for their mental health.
• Brothers Through Boxing is a non-contact boxercise and general fitness program for men aged 16-25.  The program encourages men to develop new friendships through fitness and peer-led discussions designed to break down male stereotypes. More information can be found at www.boxing-futures.org.uk
• Men’s Pie Club  is about men’s love of pies – creating them, eating them, cooking them – but most of all it’s about getting together, having fun, eating better and improving physical and mental health. The club is based in Newcastle.
• Ex-Cell 50+ helps older male ex-offenders build relationships to increase their social connection. The program uses a “mutual aid” approach where participants connect with and help others as they seek solutions to common problems.
• Ahead of the Game (currently in pilot implementation with sporting codes throughout the UK) is an evidence based adolescent mental health programme delivered through local community sports clubs. The programme is aimed at athletes, their coaches and parents. It focuses on both increasing mental health literacy and building resilience.
• Movember Conversations is an online tool that gives practical guidance on how to support men who might be struggling. Friends, family and colleagues can all use it to gain the skills and confidence to approach challenging conversations with the men in their lives. Visit https://conversations.movember.com/