From prostate cancer to mental health, November reminds us that men’s wellbeing is more than skin deep.
Did you know that men on average die 4.5 years earlier than females? Prostate cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer and is the 5th leading cause of cancer deaths in men worldwide1. More than 1 billion people worldwide are living with mental health disorders according to the World Health Organization. Suicide is the 4th leading cause of death for individuals aged 15-29 and is responsible for more than 700,000 annual deaths2. Men make up 72% of global deaths by suicide and are 3 times more likely to die by suicide than women3,4. To add, men are more likely to die by non-communicable disease (NCD) than women and men with NCDs are at an increased risk of experiencing psychological distress3.
A stigma exists around men’s mental health and acts as a barrier to reaching out and getting the support that is so necessary. Men are less likely than women to access mental health services and are disproportionately affected by comorbid conditions affecting both their mental and physical health, making men particularly vulnerable to mental health struggles.
November, also termed “Movember”, is a global movement aimed at changing men’s health, focusing on issues such as men’s mental health, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. All the important men in our lives; our fathers, brothers, partners, friends are affected and facing a health crisis, so we cannot remain silent.
If you or someone you know are struggling with their mental health, reach out to the clinic to book a counselling appointment and take a step this Movember towards better mental health. Waterdown Physiotherapy is proud to be a clinic that offers a wide range of physical and mental health supports to ensure optimal healthcare for our community. Physiotherapy, osteopathy, and massage therapy can all be used to improve physical health, reduce pain, and improve quality of life. Mental and physical health are interdependent and reliant on each other, so this month and every month going forward, do not neglect either aspect of health and wellbeing. Treat your mind and body like your life depends on it… because it does.
If you are able, this Movember, grow a moustache in solidarity and advocacy for men’s mental and physical health!
- Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024; 74(3): 229-263. doi:10.3322/caac.21834
- World Health Organization, Suicide worldwide in 2019: global health estimates. 2021.
- World Health Organization, Global Health Estimates 2019: Deaths by Cause, Age, Sex, by Country and by Region, 2000-2019. 2020
- GBD 2021 Suicide Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of suicide, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Public Health. 2025;10(3):e189-e202. doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(25)00006-4
