Movember 2022
Things got a bit hairy at the office this month!
Gray & Fick participated again in Movember this year which included growin’ some mo’s, MOving for Movember and fundraising. Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men’s health worldwide. Their focus is on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.
Movember 2022 at G&F
Dylan, Andrew, Ryan & Trevor started things off cleanshaven and grew some great mo’s over the month, Steve who already rocks a sweet ‘stache grew out his beard, and Rachel who (not for lack of trying) was not able to grow a mo - ran 60km over the month of November. That was 60km representing the 60 men we lose every hour, each hour, across the world to suicide.
As of November 30th, the Gray & Fick team has raised $1730!
We were also a part of the Canadian Construction Challenge with 65 other teams who together raised $276,361 for 2022 campaign so far!
You can still donate to our team page here!
Where does the money go?
Movember raises funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programs that enable men to live happier, healthier, and longer lives. In addition to tackling key health issues faced by men, Movember is working to encourage men to stay healthy in all areas of their life, with a focus on men staying socially connected and becoming more open to discuss their health and significant moments in their lives.
In 20221, Movember, together with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, funded and launched the world’s first subarctic mental health and addiction centre in Churchill, Manitoba to serve an area that has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. The Churchill Wellness Centre focuses on providing mental health and well-being support to local Indigenous men. The centre provides a number of unique programs aimed at promoting mental health literacy and social inclusion in men.
What else can you do?
There remains a stigma surrounding mental health that is preventing men from talking about their problems and seeking help when they need it. Movember is about disrupting the status quo and starting much-needed conversations around men's health. From Movember's site:
Can you Spot A Bro Who’s Feeling Low?
It can often be tricky spotting a friend who’s struggling.
Remember ALEC:
Ask: Start by mentioning anything different you’ve noticed about them, trust your instinct. Remember, we often say we’re fine even when we aren’t. Don’t be afraid to ask twice.
Listen: Try to give him your full attention without interruptions. Don’t feel you have to diagnose problems. Just be there to listen. Follow up questions can also let them know you’re listening.
Encourage action: Help him focus on simple things that might improve how he feels. Enough sleep? Enough exercise? Maybe there’s something that’s helped him in the past – it’s worth asking.
Check-in: Suggest you catch up soon, in person if you can. If you can’t manage a meet up, make time for a call, or drop him a message. This helps to show that you care.
Movember has some other great resources if you or someone you know are ever in need of support, including numbers for helplines. Click here for more info.
Thank you!
A huge thank you to everyone who donated to our Movember page this year. Together, we are helping change the face of men’s health.
