Movember - Changing the face of men's health

Men have thrived on challenges throughout history. The challenge to discover new lands, climb higher mountains and solve what seemed impossible tasks. It is now evident men need to unite and embrace a new challenge - to improve their collective health.

However we look at it, men are far less healthy than women. The average life expectancy of a man in New Zealand is 4 years less than a woman (presently 77.9 compared to 81.9).

Men access health services 30-40% less than women, thereby denying themselves the chance for prevention and early detection of common diseases.

The obvious question is why?

Part of the answer is a lack of awareness about the very real health issues faced by men. The good old "she'll be right" attitude and a reluctance to see a doctor about an illness or for regular medical checks also contribute to the problems.

The aim of Movember is to change this attitude, make men's health fun by putting the Mo back on the face of fashion and in the process raise some serious funds for key men's health issues.

The key men's health causes for Movember 2008 in New Zealand are:
 

Men's depression - because 1 in 10 men experience depression during their lifetime but most don't seek help.  Depression is a known high risk factor for suicide which, unfortunately ranks New Zealand with the fourth highest rate of suicide per capita. [FIND OUT MORE]

Prostate cancer - because every year in New Zealand 2,700 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 600 die of the disease, making prostate cancer the second largest cause of male cancer deaths, after lung cancer. [FIND OUT MORE]

For information on other serious men's health issues included on the website specifically look at: 

Testicular Cancer because it's the most common cancer in young men aged 18 to 35. [FIND OUT MORE]

Health issues faced by men differ depending on age. [FIND OUT MORE]

Together we can change the face of men's health.