Movember

When the pandemic hit Norway in 2020, 639 suicides were recorded. 467 of these were men. “Whatever you grow will save a bro” is the first thing that crosses your screen when you load the Movember official website. What is Movember, and why is this movement so important?

Journalist: Silje Bie Helgesen

Photographer: Ylva Friberg

Illustrator: Rebecca Øistad

Movember is a leading volunteer organization that works towards bringing men’s health into the spotlight. Men all around the globe grow mustaches or engage in physical activity every day all through November. This is done to show their support for men’s health. Prostate cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention are the core causes of Movember. The last two themes have gotten increased attention in the last few years.

According to the Public Health report by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), 600 people commit suicide every year in Norway. Two out of three are men, and the median is at 47 years. It is concerning that the numbers show such large gender disparities.
What creates such a difference? In 2014, the NIPH found some interesting discoveries when interviewing the loved ones of young men who committed suicide. The same discoveries were made in older generations. Often suicide is experienced as unexpected or sudden, without any signs that would indicate what was about to happen.

I interviewed two anonymous men in their twenties for a chat about the heavy subject. We choose to call them Lasse and Trym.

Why are men struggling mentally?

“It is probably a combination of many things. Men are generally less inclined to talk about their feelings, and when you are young, it is tough to talk about. It is a combination of struggling or being brave enough to talk about it,” Lasse says. NIPH claims that transitioning from being young to being an adult can be a tough period where young men commit suicide. We, students, are in this period now or will meet it when we leave university.

“When you experience this transition into adulthood, there is a social shift from student life to another type of environment, maybe with even more pressure,” says Trym. Trym explains that the older generation, with high numbers of suicide, grew up under different conditions.

“The father was supposed to watch over others and provide safety and security, and feelings were linked to vulnerability. As a man you were supposed to take care of yourself and be strong, it was a weakness to show that you were feeling down.” This is a stigma that is important to dismantle.

Considered suicide

Your friend, someone in the classroom, or the person you say hello to, can appear happy on the outside and seem eager for life. But on the inside, the story can be drastically different. “I struggled with my mental health a year ago and did consider suicide. This can apply to anyone,” Lasse tells us. He explains that young people have developed strong attitudes about always performing well. In his case, this pressure grew too large and the strain resulted in his psyche not being able to handle it anymore.

“I was very down, and I think more people have thought about suicide than we know. Today I am doing much better” He talks about how crucial it was to open up to a close friend, and how important it is that the boys in the friend group watch out for each other. Lasse explains, “We agreed that we will look after each other and make sure no one closes themselves completely off, that is important if you are extra worried about someone.”

It is getting easier to talk about feelings

Equality means that men are also breaking out of their old gender roles. Movember contributes to an environment where it is easier for men to talk about heavy subjects. “Men struggle as much as women, but women are brave enough to ask for help. Over the last few years, it has become more acceptable for men to open more up,” says Trym.

“If you are struggling, accept it. When you take this first step and have a serious conversation about tough feelings with “the boys”, the standard is lowered and it is made so more people do the same thing,” Lasse mentions.

Check yourself - Testicular cancer

Young men in particular are at a higher risk of getting testicular cancer. Testicular cancer starts out as a growth in the testicles, and in 90% of the cases, it starts in the cells that produce sperm. The risk of getting cancer is increased by family history of testicular cancer, if you have had it before, undescended testicles at birth and if you have Down syndrome. Movember rejects claims that harm to the testicles, strain from sports, hot baths, or tight clothing can increase the risk of getting testicular cancer.

Symptoms of testicular cancer:

Swelling or a lump in one of the testicles (normally painless)

A feeling of weight in the sack
Change in testicular size and shape
Aches or pains in the lower stomach or groin
Sudden fluid formation in the sack
Pain or discomfort in the testicle or the sack

Expanding or tenderness in the breast tissue

Facts from movember.com

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer occurs when the cells in the prostate reproduce faster than normal. A tumor will appear, and the cells can spread to the rest of the body. The disease can develop without the man experiencing symptoms, which means that it is incredibly important to check yourself.

Symptoms of prostate cancer:

Frequent need to urinate, especially at night
Difficulty starting urinating or holding the urine back
Weak or broken urinating
Painful or burning urination
Difficulty getting an erection

Painful ejaculation
Blood or urine in the semen
Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or thighs

Facts from movember.com