With November rolling around, I’ve decided to get involved in Movember this year. That means growing a moustache for the month, although I’m not entirely convinced my girlfriend is going to be impressed with the finished product. Her first reaction was to ask whether I was aiming for an 80s pornstar look.

Fair question, to be honest.

But when she followed it up with, “Why are you growing it? What is Movember?”, it got me thinking. How many people actually know what Movember is about, beyond a month of questionable moustaches?

For me, there’s a personal reason for getting involved, and it goes beyond growing some questionable facial hair.

So, what exactly is Movember?

Movember is a global movement dedicated to changing the face of men’s health. It raises awareness and funds for four major areas: mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

The idea is simple. Grow a moustache, get people talking, raise money and, hopefully, encourage men to take their health a little more seriously.

And it’s something we need to take seriously.

According to Movember, one man dies by suicide every minute around the world. Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men globally, while testicular cancer is the most common cancer among younger men.

These aren’t just statistics on a website. Behind every number is a person, a family and a story.

Why it matters to me

This isn’t a cause I’ve picked simply because November came around and I fancied trying out a new look.

My own dad was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Thankfully, he’s doing well now and came through it. But when something like that happens to someone in your family, it changes how you look at these things. Cancer suddenly stops being a distant statistic. It becomes something that has affected your own family.

It’s also a reminder of how important it is to know your body, recognise when something isn’t right and actually do something about it.

Testicular cancer is highly treatable, particularly when diagnosed early. Getting familiar with what’s normal for you and speaking to your GP if you notice a lump, swelling, pain or any other unusual change is important. There’s no need to feel embarrassed about getting checked.

The same goes for prostate health. Knowing the potential symptoms and having a conversation with your GP about your individual risk can make a real difference.

I wouldn’t wish a cancer diagnosis on anyone, but I also wouldn’t want someone to ignore a warning sign because they’re embarrassed or hoping it’ll go away.

The conversation we need to have

Cancer awareness is one part of Movember. The other is something that can be much harder to spot: men’s mental health.

For generations, plenty of men have grown up believing they should keep their problems to themselves. Get on with it. Don’t complain. Don’t show weakness.

I think we all know someone who fits that description. Maybe we’ve even been that person ourselves.

But struggling isn’t weakness, and asking for help isn’t something to be ashamed of.

Sometimes the most important thing you can do is check in with a friend, brother, dad, partner or workmate. Not just with a quick message asking how they’re doing, but by genuinely asking and taking the time to listen.

And if someone tells you they’re struggling, you don’t need to have all the answers. You don’t need to fix everything. Sometimes just being there and making sure they know they’re not alone is a good place to start.

We should be making it easier for men to talk, not giving them another reason to stay quiet.

What can you do?

You don’t have to grow a moustache to get involved. There are a few simple things we can all do:

• Get familiar with your health. Know what’s normal for your body and speak to your GP about anything unusual.
• Have the conversation. Ask the men in your life how they’re really doing, and make time to listen.
• Don’t ignore warning signs. Whether physical or mental, getting help early matters.
• Support the cause. Take part in Movember, donate if you can, or share information to help spread awareness.

If you’re in Ireland and need someone to talk to, there are organisations ready to listen:

• Samaritans: Call 116 123, free, 24 hours a day.
• Pieta: Call 1800 247 247, or text HELP to 51444.
• Text About It: Text HELLO to 50808 for free, confidential support, 24 hours a day.
• Your GP: A good first step for concerns about your physical or mental health.

You can also find more information about men’s health and the campaign through Movember.

Grow a mo, save a bro.

So, this November, I’ll be putting my razor away and giving the moustache a chance. Whether it ends up looking respectable or more like something from an 80s comedy film remains to be seen.

But if it gets one person talking, encourages someone to book an appointment, or reminds a mate that it’s okay to ask for help, then it’s worth it.

My dad’s experience has given this campaign a personal meaning for me. I’m grateful he’s doing well, and I hope sharing a little of that story encourages someone else to take their health seriously.

Because Movember is about much more than a moustache. It’s about looking after ourselves, looking out for each other, and making sure the men in our lives know they don’t have to face things alone.

Grow a mo, save a bro.