That time of year has snuck up on us again: it’s time to prepare your face for a ‘mo’ in the name of men’s health for Movember.

Movember runs annually in the month of November to raise money and awareness for men’s health issues.

Movember’s global director of mental health and suicide prevention, Brendan Maher, said there has never been a more important time to grow a mo than in 2020.

“Men’s health, generally, is challenging in the areas that we focus on; prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention,” he said.

“But with the lens of COVID-19, we know that guys have been doing it tough.”

Referencing a survey conducted by Movember earlier in the year of 1,429 Australians, Mr Maher said one in two Australian men said no one had reached out to them during the pandemic to ask how they were coping.

A third of men also said they were feeling lonely or isolated during COVID-19.

“[22%] of us indicated that our mental health had worsened, and a third of us were really worried about our job security,” he said.

“And none of this is a huge surprise.”

Brumbies legend and co-owner of The Dock, Ben Alexander, says Movember is a “bit of fun” for a really important cause – one that’s “needed now, more than ever”.

This year, Movember’s encouraging anyone who can grow a mo to do so. If you can’t, Movember suggests a number of other fundraising initiatives. You can walk 60 kilometers over the course of the month, host an in-person or virtual ‘mo-ment’ with friends, or ‘mo your own way’ and get creative to raise some funds for the cause.

For all the details or to register your mo, visit the Movember website. 

If you need someone to talk to: Lifeline 13 11 14; MensLine 1300 78 99 78; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.