Every November, thousands of men across the UK and worldwide participate in Movember. It is an opportunity for many to cut down the morning shaving time and to show a little moustache creativity. But the initiative is about much more than comparing facial hair – it has a powerful message behind it that promotes the importance of men’s physical health and mental wellbeing.
For 2025, the focus is on five key areas that all men should be aware of. While many of these points are applicable to people of all genders, they tend to be aspects that men are particularly at risk of or less likely to address. This exacerbates health inequalities and highlights the need for campaigns such as Movember.
1 – Spend time with the right people
The first guideline is to spend time with people who make you feel good. This emphasises the impact that connecting with others can have on mental health. A study from 2024 found robust evidence that social engagement improves mental wellbeing, while also boosting physical health and reducing mortality.[i] The Movember 2025 campaign puts a spotlight on actively reaching out to male friends, colleagues and family members who may be struggling or need some extra support. There is a helpful tool on the website designed to help start the conversation in a sensitive yet effective way.
2 – Talk more
To further prepare for what can be tough conversations among men, it’s necessary to be a little vulnerable yourself. It’s important for us to check-in with ourselves, to see how we’re feeling and ensure we have sufficient mental capacity and time to really listen to the friends and loved ones we are connecting with. For many, it can be easier to open up after someone else has shared something personal about their own journey. Much more research is needed in this area, but there is initial evidence that engaging with someone with lived experience of mental health struggles can improve the quality of support for individuals with depressive or anxiety symptoms.[ii] In addition, men are known to access healthcare services less frequently than women,[iii] which is often expected to be the result of personal priorities and societal perceptions of masculinity.
3 – Know the numbers
Appropriate knowledge and understanding can empower men to take action and advocate for their health and wellbeing. As such, it is important that essential information about major health conditions in men is shared far and wide. We need to know what the most common problems are, what their risk factors are and how we reduce the chance of developing them.
For example, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men over the age of 45. Knowing how to check yourself and what to look for is crucial for early detection, diagnosis and treatment, in turn improving outcomes and survival rates.
4 – Know thy nuts
With this in mind, it is important that men get to grips with the subject – and themselves. Details of the recommended self-examination steps are readily available online and on the Movember website. It doesn’t have to take long and can be done in the shower for convenience. Any suspicions or questions require a check-up with the GP for professional insight and peace of mind.
5 – Get moving
The final stage in the Movember 2025 five-step sequence is to move more. Exercise is associated with a number of positive health outcomes, including a 13% decrease in the risk of mortality, improved quality of life, reduced pain and so much more.[iv] Beyond the physical, exercise has also been shown to significantly improve mental health and wellbeing, self-esteem, self-efficacy, body image satisfaction, resilience, and social connection, among other equally as positive factors.[v]
Thankfully, this is a fairly simple change for men to implement into their daily lifestyles, no matter what they do for work, their personal hobbies or family commitments. Cycling to the office, walking to a friend’s instead of driving, trying a new sport or taking the kids to the park at weekends are all great ways of moving more. Many also increase time spent outdoors, which is also associated with enhanced mental health in adult populations.[vi]
More than a style icon
So, this Movember, take a moment to connect with the men in your life and see how they’re doing. The moustache might be a creative outlet and a way to make a fashion statement, but it is also a symbol of something much deeper.
More details about Movember can be access at https://uk.movember.com/home
Dr Michael Sultan – Endocare
[i] Holt-Lunstad J. Social connection as a critical factor for mental and physical health: evidence, trends, challenges, and future implications. World Psychiatry. 2024 Oct;23(3):312-332. doi: 10.1002/wps.21224. PMID: 39279411; PMCID: PMC11403199.
[ii] Simmons, M.B., Cartner, S., MacDonald, R. et al. The effectiveness of peer support from a person with lived experience of mental health challenges for young people with anxiety and depression: a systematic review. BMC Psychiatry 23, 194 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04578-2
[iii] Höhn A, Gampe J, Lindahl-Jacobsen R, Christensen K, Oksuyzan A. Do men avoid seeking medical advice? A register-based analysis of gender-specific changes in primary healthcare use after first hospitalisation at ages 60+ in Denmark. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2020 Jun;74(7):573-579. doi: 10.1136/jech-2019-213435. Epub 2020 Apr 17. PMID: 32303595; PMCID: PMC7337231.
[iv] Posadzki, P., Pieper, D., Bajpai, R. et al. Exercise/physical activity and health outcomes: an overview of Cochrane systematic reviews. BMC Public Health 20, 1724 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09855-3
[v] White, R.L., Vella, S., Biddle, S. et al. Physical activity and mental health: a systematic review and best-evidence synthesis of mediation and moderation studies. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 21, 134 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-024-01676-6
[vi] Coventry PA, Brown JE, Pervin J, Brabyn S, Pateman R, Breedvelt J, Gilbody S, Stancliffe R, McEachan R, White PL. Nature-based outdoor activities for mental and physical health: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SSM Popul Health. 2021 Oct 1;16:100934. doi: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100934. PMID: 34646931; PMCID: PMC8498096.
