The Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) has launched its Movember Challenge, calling on people to start a team for their unit or office and raise awareness for men’s health.
In a statement, VICSES said that since 2003, more than six million people across 20 countries had joined the global men’s health campaign.
“Mos will once again sprout up from behind face masks, starting life-saving conversations over the course of the month in an effort to raise funds and awareness for men’s mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer,” VICSES said.
“Over the last two years the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to take a toll on the mental and physical health of men across the country,” it said.
“In Australia, three out of four suicides are men and suicide is the leading cause of premature death for men.”
VICSES said first responders were seven times more likely to suffer mental injury than the general public, according to research by the Emergency Services Foundation.
It said disruptions caused by the pandemic had also played a role in delaying potentially life-saving conversations for those experiencing prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
“In Australia, one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men,” it said.
“This is why Movember is calling on Mo Bros and Mo Sisters across the country to rally together and help our men live happier, healthier, longer lives.”
VICSES said it had set a target of $7,500 in donations and, if met, VICSES staff Alistair Drayton and David Baker had pledged to dye their mos a bright orange.
Operations Officer at VICSES, Aaron White said while men’s mental health was something which should be looked at every day of the year, Movember highlighted it on an international scale.
“Men’s mental health is important to me having lost family and friends to suicide, so it’s close to home,” Mr White said.
“It’s also a fun, interactive way as a team to do this for ourselves and raise some money for a good cause,” he said.