Is Growing a Mustache Cheaper Than Therapy?
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It’s that time of year again. The air is crisp, the mimosas are bottomless, and mustaches everywhere are fighting for their moment in the spotlight. But behind the patchy stashes and playful selfies, Movember is doing something much deeper. It’s saving lives.
The Story Behind the Stash
Movember started back in 2003 with just thirty guys in Australia who wanted to start a conversation about men’s health. Today, more than six million people across twenty countries take part. Every mustache grown, every donation made, and every awkward conversation had has helped fund over a thousand projects focused on men’s health, both physical and mental.
Project 11: A Legacy That Saves Lives
One of the most powerful projects to come out of this movement is Project 11, created by the True North Youth Foundation in memory of Winnipeg Jets player Rick Rypien. Rick was known for his grit on the ice, but off the ice, he battled depression. After his passing in 2011, his teammates and community wanted to make sure no one else had to fight that kind of battle alone.
They built Project 11 to help kids learn about mindfulness, coping skills, and emotional health early on, before things reach a breaking point. What started in Manitoba has now spread across Canada. Teachers use it in classrooms, coaches include it in sports programs, and workplaces are adopting it too.
It’s the kind of emotional education most of us wish we had when we were twelve and crying in the locker room, pretending it was just sweat.
The Numbers We Can’t Ignore
Men are three to four times more likely to die by suicide than women. In Canada, we lose twelve people a day to suicide, and most of them are men. The silence, the pressure to man up, the idea that showing emotion is weakness, it’s costing lives.
Movember and Project 11 are helping change that story, one honest conversation at a time.
A Listener’s Perfect Reminder
One of our favorite listeners, a longtime Movember supporter, said it best: “Don’t let your eggs spoil. Check them often.”
It’s funny, but it’s also the reminder men need. Regular self-checks for testicular cancer can save lives, especially since it’s one of the most common cancers in men aged 15 to 39. When it’s caught early, the survival rate is 95 percent.
So guys, while you’re there anyway, take a moment to make sure everything feels right.
Mental Health Check-ins Matter Too
Physical checkups are important, but mental ones are just as vital. Send that text. Make that call. Tell your buddy you love him. It might feel awkward at first, but that’s exactly how we start to break the stigma.
As Coralie said in the episode, feminism isn’t just about women’s equality. It’s about allowing everyone to be their authentic selves. Men deserve to express emotion without being told to toughen up. We don’t need to man up. We need to speak up.
Your Brunch Homework
Check your eggs.
Check your bros.
Check in with yourself.
A mustache might raise awareness, but talking about it saves lives.
Movember Links:
🔗 movember.com
🔗 projecteleven.ca