Each year during the month of November, Springfield-Greene County Health encourages men to make a personal commitment to their health through the Movember movement. Since 2003, Movember has been encouraging men to take steps to better their health in primary areas, including testicular cancer, prostate cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.
To commemorate the month-long focus on men’s health, SGCHD is promoting the Healthy Living Alliance of the Ozarks’ new men’s mental health campaign. The campaign encourages men in our community to start and continue conversations about mental health with their peers. These conversations can start with a simple question: “Hey man, you good?”
“Conversation is a valuable tool in breaking down the barriers of mental health stigma and in building connection with the people around us who can help when we aren’t doing well,” said Jon Mooney, Assistant Director at SGCHD. “When we talk about our experiences, it makes them less difficult to face head-on.”
This November, along with other preventative men’s health efforts like annual physicals, cancer screenings, self-tests and exercise, we encourage men to talk to someone they trust about their mental health. It can be a doctor, a spouse, a partner, family member or a friend.
Men and their loved ones can learn how to start these often difficult conversations with resources and guides on MentalHealth417.com
Additionally, Men can watch community leaders talk about mental health in new campaign videos. Watch Mayor Ken McClure and Director of Health Katie Towns kick off Movember and learn how to start mental health conversations in real-life scenarios alongside Missouri State University President Clif Smart, Fire Chief David Pennington and President of Mercy Springfield Communities David Argueta.
As you are starting conversations and taking preventative action, the Movember campaign also encourages men to grow a mustache—a symbol that shows you are committed to discussing and improving men’s health. According to the Movember movement, 5 million people globally have grown a mustache in support of men’s health since 2003. Find more information on the Movember campaign at us.movember.com.
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Media may contact the Health Department PIO Team by call or text at 417-380-2556 or email at [email protected].
Springfield-Greene County Health
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