Anyone who knows me is aware that I'm a reasonably hirsute individual. But this month, there's going to be even more hair than usual - and you guys get to watch!
Yup, it's Movember time again and this year Netregistry is putting in a team to sculpt the best mos money can sponsor. My top lip is not going to know the touch of a razor for thirty days.
Every year, Movember aims to raise awareness of prostrate cancer and male depression. Money is raised and donated to The Prostrate Cancer Foundation of Australia as well as Beyond Blue - the national depression initiative.
Regular readers of this blog will know that I'm a big believer of being open about depression. There is still a great deal of stigma attached to it, particularly amongst men, which is usually due to a misunderstanding of what depression is and how it transforms a persons life.
I know I will be on medication most likely for years to come. Maybe forever. I know I have to manage my mental faculties with greater care than most people to avoid symptoms impacting on my day to day. But I also know that the alternative is a form of living hell that is completely indescribable to an outsider whose brain chemistry still works okay.
1 in 8 men will experience depression in their lifetime. What is sad is that so many still view it as weakness, not an illness. Almost 80% of all suicides in Australia are men, an astonishing statistic. Are we really that bad at seeking help or understanding what is going on? Well it seems so. Beyond Blue reports that, although male depression is at a lower rate than it is for women, over 70% of men suffering from depression don't seek help. Many choose to 'self-medicate' with drugs or alcohol. Anyone want to draw a line between those two stats?
You can help change this by sponsoring my mo. I'll give regular updates here on the blog so you can have a giggle. Will I go for the Magnum PI look or maybe a waxed creation? What about a toothbrush or a handlebar? So get clicking and donating - whether you give one dollar or fifty, it all helps enormously.
