For the second consecutive year, male members of KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital’s staff participated in Movember. The event, also known as No-Shave November, is an annual event involving the growing of mustaches. This is to raise awareness of men’s health issues ranging from cancer to mental health.

What Is Movember?

The Movember Foundation is a global charity committed to men living happier, healthier, longer lives. Since 2003, millions have joined the men’s health movement, raising $650 million. This has funded over 1,000 programs focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity. While the Movember Foundation gains recognition during the month of November, they work year-round with global men’s health partners and academic and clinical institutions to ensure their programs accelerate improvements to some of the biggest health issues faced by men.

The four areas of focus include prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health, and physical inactivity. The results of poor mental health can be deadly. Globally, a man dies every minute from suicide. Men, regardless of age group, often don’t recognize when they’re experiencing a mental health issue. They may not be comfortable asking for help.

Derrick Hurst and Bobby Eklofe pose, showing a month of November participation.

KVC Prairie Ridge Support

This year, with the leadership of Derrick Hurst (pictured above on left), the Director of Hospital Services, we extended this challenge to all our employees who choose to grow a mustache.  Participants of the team “Mustaches Matter” were asked to simply grow a mustache. As well as begin talking about the issues and telling people where they can go to get help.  If an employee did not, or could not, grow a mustache, the challenge was given to join the movement by adding 30 minutes of physical activity every day in November.  Promoting the Movember movement in this way is not only great for physical health but is also proven to greatly improve mental health.

Chris Brotherton, therapist, shows off his Movember mustache after a month of participation.

The Movember movement started with 30 moustaches in 2003. Now, it’s grown to 5 million “Mo Bros and Mo Sistas”.  Everyone, regardless of age or gender, can participate by supporting a team.  If you want to be part of the fun you can check out the team’s page here: Mustaches Matter.

KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital offers psychiatric inpatient and residential treatment services for children and adolescents struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and feelings of violence. Located on our serene 75-acre campus in Kansas City, Kan., Prairie Ridge provides a modern, safe, secure and child-friendly treatment environment in a private and peaceful setting. Learn more here.