Author: Liam Carmichael

Background

Movember is celebrated globally on an annual basis.

Movember was founded in 2003 by Travis Garone and Luke Slattery with the main focus being men’s health and prostate cancer.

According to uk.movember.com: “In 2003, two mates from Melbourne, Australia (Travis Garone and Luke Slattery) were having a quiet beer at the Gypsy Bar in Fitzroy when their conversation turned to recurring fashion trends. The moustache, a fixture in past decades, was nowhere to be seen in recent trends. They joked about bringing it back.

The two friends decided to talk their mates into growing a Mo. Inspired by a friend’s mother who was fundraising for breast cancer, they decided to make the campaign about men’s health and prostate cancer. They designed the rules of Movember (which are still in place today) and agreed to charge ten dollars to grow a Mo.“

Why is Movember important?

According to Prostate Cancer UK: “Movember, the month formally known as November, is when brave and selfless men around the world grow a moustache, and women step up to support them, all to raise awareness and funds for men’s health – specifically prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.”

According to uk.movember.com: “Mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer – we’re taking them all on

Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research, and transforming the way health services reach and support men.”

We discussed previously during Men’s Health Week, which took place earlier in June about Men’s physical and mental health, cancer and how to improve your physical health. If you would like to find out more about men’s health or how one can improve their physical health, we recommend that you have a read of it here.

How do I join in Movember?

You can join in Movember by:

• Growing a moustache – Grow your moustache for Movember, use your moustache as a way to raise awareness about men’s health. You can also join in with others to raise funds to “grow a mo”. If you would like to join in or to find out more about Movember’s grow a moustache, then please visit uk.movember.com/get-involved/moustaches.

• Join the “Move for Movember” event – The Move for Movember event is focused on either walking or running 60km over the month of Movember, according to Movember’s website: “Run or walk 60km over the month. That’s 60km for the 60 men we lose to suicide each hour, every hour across the world.” If you would like to find out more or to join in “Move for Movember”, then please visit uk.movember.com/get-involved/move.

• Join a local event – Events are held throughout the UK by individuals who are wanting to help others or wanting to make a change, if you would like to join an event or to find out which events are being held throughout Movember, then please visit uk.movember.com/events.

• Sharing on social media – By sharing this article and other articles and information about Movember and why it is so important, you are helping to raise awareness about men’s health.

• Hosting your own event – Host your own event for Movember and challenge family, friends, neighbours and co-workers to join your event.

Movember’s website contains multiple guides to how to host your own face-to-face or virtual event, trivia questions, posters and much more. If you are interested in hosting your own event or you would like to find out more about hosting your own event for Movember, then please visit uk.movember.com/get-involved/host.

Background

World Diabetes Day is celebrated globally on the 14th of November on an annual basis.

It was founded in 1991 by the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2006.

According to worlddiabetesday.org: “World Diabetes Day is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in more than 160 countries. The campaign draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes firmly in the public and political spotlight.

The World Diabetes Campaign aims to be the:

• Platform to promote IDF advocacy efforts throughout the year.

• Global driver to promote the importance of taking coordinated and concerted actions to confront diabetes as a critical global health issue.”

Theme

For 2021 – 2023, the theme is “Access to Diabetes Care”, with this year’s main focus on promoting the importance of educating individuals on diabetes.

According to worlddiabetesday.org: “People living with diabetes need ongoing education to manage their condition. Many do not have access to diabetes education.”

How do I join in World Diabetes Day?

You can join in World Diabetes Day by:

• Sharing on social media – By sharing this article and other articles and information on social media about World Diabetes Day and why it is so important.
  
  The World Diabetes Day website has added a resources section on their website which includes content that you can use on your media such as logo’s, posters, infographics, web banners and much more. If you would like to use these resources, then please visit worlddiabetesday.org/resources.

• Participate in a local diabetes event – Events will be hosted over the UK by local diabetes charities, if you would like to join one of these events, then please contact your local diabetes charity.
  
  If you would like to search for a charity which is close to you online then please go to neighbourly.com. Neighbourly.com will assist you in your search for charities in your town within a specific range.

• Wear blue for diabetes – By wearing blue or wearing a blue circle pin or bracelet, you are promoting World Diabetes Day and that you are raising awareness of diabetes.

• Download the Blue Circle Selfie app – According to worddiabetesday.org: “The blue circle is the universal symbol for diabetes. It signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the rising number of people affected by diabetes. The symbol means nothing to many people. Help us change that!”
  
  If you would like to find out more or to download the Blue Circle Selfie app, then please visit worlddiabetesday.org/resources/wdd-2021/blue-circle-selfie-app.

• Find out more about diabetes – Finding out more about diabetes can help you to educate others on the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, or about their blood sugars.

We discussed previously during Diabetes Week, which took place earlier in June on the differences of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and what a diabetic emergency is, we recommend that you have a read of it here.

Background

National Stress Awareness Day is held Nationally on the first Wednesday of November on an annual basis.

National Stress Awareness Day is managed by the International Stress Management Association (ISMA) and seeks to increase public awareness and to help individuals to understand how to manage and reduce stress in their lives.

This year National Stress Awareness Day will take place on the 2nd of November 2022.

What is Stress?

According to the NHS: “Stress is the body’s reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure. It’s very common, can be motivating to help us achieve thigs in our daily life, and can help us meet the demands of home, work and family life.

But too much stress can affect our mood, our body and our relationships – especially when it feels out of our control. It can make us feel anxious and irritable, and affect our self-esteem.”

Does stress affect my feelings?

Stress can affect your feelings in multiple ways, according to the Mental Health Foundation: ”You may feel:

• Anxious
• Afraid
• Angry or aggressive
• Sad
• Irritable
• Frustrated
• Depressed

These feelings can sometimes produce physical symptoms, making you feel even worse.”

Does stress affect my health?

Stress can affect your health from your body’s reactions, according to the Mental Health Foundation: “If you’re stressed, you may experience:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Indigestion
• Digestion problems such as constipation, bloating or diarrhoea.
• Shallow breathing or hyperventilating
• Sweating
• Heart palpitations
• Aches and pains”

How can I reduce my stress?

There are many that are suggested to help reduce stress, some of these are listed below:

• Build supportive relationships – According to the Mental Health Foundation: “Find close friends or family who can offer help and practical advice can support you in managing stress. Joining a club or a course can help to expand your social network and encourage you to do something different.”

• Eating healthily – According to the Mental Health Foundation: “A healthy diet can improve your mood. Getting enough nutrients (including essential vitamins and minerals) and water can help with  your overall mental wellbeing.”

• Organise your time – According to mind.org.uk: “Some of us may feel stressed because we have a lot of things to manage in our life. In this case, changing the way we organise our time can help us feel more in control”.

• Take time for yourself – With everything that happens around us, it is always a good idea to take some time to yourself, do a hobby, read a book or watch your favourite show or movie. Maybe even go for a little walk or a nice hike.

• Be kind to yourself – According to the Mental Health Foundation: “Try to keep things in perspective and don’t be too hard on yourself. Look for things in your life that are positive and write down things that make you feel grateful.”

How can I join in on National Stress Awareness Day?

You can join in by:

• Sharing on social media – By sharing this article and other articles and information about National Stress Awareness Day and why it is so important and help to raise awareness.

• Taking time for yourself – Why not take some time for yourself today. Relax and have some tea, go enjoy that show you have been wanting to watch for a long time or simply go for a relaxing getaway.

• Read up on tips and tricks to maintain and reduce stress – Understanding how to manage and reduce stress can help you through any stressful situations that you might have to deal with in the future.

Movember is celebrated globally on an annual basis.

Movember was founded in 2003 by Travis Garone and Luke Slattery with the main focus being men’s health and prostate cancer.

Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research, and transforming the way health services reach and support men.

You can join in Movember by:

• Growing a moustache – Grow your moustache for Movember, use your moustache as a way to raise
  awareness about men’s health. You can also join in with others to raise funds to “grow a mo”. If you
  would like to join in or to find out more about Movember’s grow a moustache, then please visit
  uk.movember.com/get-involved/moustaches.

• Join the “Move for Movember” event – The Move for Movember event is focused on either walking or running 60km over the month of Movember, according to Movember’s website: “Run or walk 60km over the month. That’s 60km for the 60 men we lose to suicide each hour, every hour across the world.” If you would like to find out more or to join in “Move for Movember”, then please visit uk.movember.com/get-involved/move.

Background

World Menopause Day is held globally on the 18th of October on an annual basis.

The International Menopause Society established World Menopause Day in 2009 to raise awareness for women who face health issues when approaching, during and after menopause.

According to the International Menopause Society: The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of Menopause and the support options available for improving health and wellbeing of women across the globe. This can be done by sharing materials, whether it is leaflets or social media posts, or simply organising events; all of these can assist to reduce the stigma associated with Menopause.

Theme

For 2022, the theme for World Menopause Day is “Cognition and Mood” which focuses on how hormonal changes through menopause can affect the memory and mood.

How does Menopause affect my cognition and mood?

According to nhsinform.scot: “Changes in your hormones during menopause can impact your mental health as well as your physical health. Menopausal symptoms may include:

• Anger and irritability
• Anxiety
• Forgetfulness
• Loss of self-esteem
• Loss of confidence
• Low mood and feeling of sadness or depression
• Poor concentration – often described as ‘brain fog’ and/or lost words

Many women experiencing menopause or perimenopause will experience problems with sleeping”.

Lack of sleep can heighten the symptoms of Menopause; such as increased tiredness, reduce the ability to concentrate or increase the levels of anxiety for an individual.

What is perimenopause?

According to nhsinform.scot: “Perimenopause is the time from the start of menopausal symptoms until after a woman has experienced her last period. Periods will usually start to become less frequent over a few months or years before they stop altogether. They might be more irregular and become heavier or lighter. For some women, they can stop suddenly.”

How do I join in World Menopause Day?

You can join in World Menopause Day by:

• Sharing on social media – By sharing this article and other information you are helping to raise awareness for World Menopause Day and how important World Menopause Day is.
  
  The International Menopause Society have posted social media assets on their website which one can simply reshare to raise awareness, these can be found via www.imsociety.org/education/world-menopause-day/#toolkit.

• Read up on articles regarding Menopause – The International Menopause Society have posted articles and reports from around the world on their website which are connected to this year’s theme, if you would like to read one of these articles, then please visit www.imsociety.org/education/world-menopause-day/#whitepaper.
  
  We discussed previously about Menopause in the Workplace. We discussed about how menopause can affect women in the workplace, what employers and line managers can do support to people who are going through menopause or perimenopause and much more. We recommend you have a read of it here.

• Put an awareness raising poster in the workplace – The International Menopause Society have posted an awareness raising poster which businesses can download from their website. This poster contains information about Cognition and Mood. If you would like to download this poster and use it in your workplace, then please visit www.imsociety.org/education/world-menopause-day/#poster.

If I can’t join in World Menopause Day, is there any other way to help?

If you would like to donate to a charity focused on menopause, we have listed a few below:

• The Menopause Charity – “The Menopause Charity works to improve women’s and healthcare professionals’ understanding of the menopause. No pharmaceutical companies contribute to the cost of providing this education nor has any input into or control over the content of our work, all of which expresses our independent views”.
  
  If you would like to donate, then please visit www.themenopausecharity.org/donate.

• Wellbeing of Women – “We save and change the lives of women, girls and babies. Led by women’s voices, we improve health and wellbeing through research, education and advocacy.” If you would like to donate to Wellbeing of Women, then please visit www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk/donate.

• Menopause Support – “Menopause Support provides private support via telephone and video consultations and bespoke menopause training and support solutions for businesses and organisations and menopause training days for therapists and well-being professionals”.
  
  If you would like to donate, then please visit www.menopausesupport.co.uk.

If you feel like you’re perimenopausal or menopausal and want more information or support, then we would suggest you to speak with a medical professional, menopause specialist or your local GP.

They can provide you with medical advice and assistance with menopause or perimenopause symptoms. If you would like to search for your closest menopause specialist, then please visit www.thebms.org.uk/find-a-menopause-specialist.

Background

World Mental Health Day is celebrated globally on the 10th of October on an annual basis.

The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), which was founded in 1948 created World Mental Health Day, which was first observed on the 10th of October 1992. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) “The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilise efforts in support of metal health.”

The hashtag used for this event is #WorldMentalHealthDay.

Theme

For 2022, theme is “Making Mental Health & Well-Being for All a Global Priority”. This focuses on spreading awareness of mental health and to encourage individuals to share their stories about their mental health.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO): “Whilst the pandemic has, and continues to, take its toll on our mental health, the ability to reconnect through World Mental Health Day 2022 will provide us with an opportunity to re-kindle our efforts to protect and improve mental health.”

What can I do to improve my mental health?

According to mind.org.uk: “There are lots of things we can try to take care of our wellbeing. We have tips to help you:

• Relax and reduce stress
• Find ways to learn and be creative
• Spend time in nature
• Connect with others
• Look after your physical health
• Try to get enough sleep

It’s not always easy to start with caring for your wellbeing. You might find it helpful to:

• Only try what feels comfortable
• Give yourself time to figure out what works for you, going at your own pace
• Take small steps. Pick one or two things that feel achievable at first, before moving on to try other ideas.”

We discussed previously during Mental Health Awareness Week, which took place earlier in May on how one can improve their mental health and reduce loneliness, we recommend that you have a read of it here.

How do I join in World Mental Health Day?

You can join in World Mental Health Day by:

• Sharing on social media – By sharing this article and other articles and information which details why World Mental Health Day is so important, you will help to raise awareness.

• Check in on your family and friends – By checking in on your family and friends, you can help them to open up about how they are feeling, what is worrying them and then assist them with their worries.

If I can’t join in World Mental Health Day, is there any other way to help?

If you would like to donate to a charity focused on mental health, we have listed a few below:

• Mind – “We provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.” If you would like to donate to Mind, then please visit www.mind.org.uk/donate.

• Mental Health Foundation – “Since 1949, the Mental Health Foundation has been the UK’s leading charity for everyone’s mental health. With prevention at heart of what we do, we aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.” If you would like to donate to the Mental Health Foundation, then please visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk/donate.

• World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) – “WFMH is an international membership organisation founded in 1948 to advance, among all people and nations, the prevention of mental and emotional disorders, the proper treatment and care of those with such disorders, and the promotion of mental health.” If you would like donate to the WFMH then please visit wfmh.global/donate-now.

• Rethink – “As experts in mental illness, we know that with the right support and information people severely affected by mental illness can have a good quality of life. That’s why our aim is to meet each person’s individual needs and make sure everyone is living with a mental illness is treated with dignity and respect.” If you would like to donate to Rethink, then please visit my.rethink.org/donorhub.

If you feel that your mental health is being affected, be sure to reach out to your support system or a mental health support service as soon as possible.

We recommend that you get in touch with Able Futures, which is a government funded charity, which can provide a program/support for all matters relating to mental health, their website is able-futures.co.uk and their direct number is 0800 323 3137.

Background

Black History Month is held Globally on an annual basis.

Black History Month was founded in 1915 by Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland in the United States of America (originally named as “Negro History Week” until after 1976). The UK’s first celebration of Black History Month was in 1987.

According to history.co.uk: “Every October in the UK since 1987, the country has celebrated Black History Month, a month dedicated to remembering the contributions of those people from African and Caribbean heritage, as well as Asian, to our country’s history. All too often the history books have written their stories out of our past and Black History Month acts as a constant reminder that our country has a rich and diverse cultural heritage.”

Theme

For 2022, the theme for Black History Month is “Time for change: Action Not Words”.

According to blackhistorymonth.org.uk: “To get to a better tomorrow, we can’t just focus on the past. The past is in the past. We can acknowledge and learn from it, but to improve the future, we need action, not words. We need to come together around a shared common goal to achieve a better world for everyone.”

Black History Month aim is to raise awareness and for more individuals to celebrate this month and become an advocate for diversity and inclusion by ensuring that individuals of different race and ethnicities are treated equally both publicly, privately and in the workplace. According to harperbazaar.com: “Black History Month enables both adults and children to gain a broader understanding of Black histories, going beyond racism and slavery to also spotlight Black achievement. It helps us all to see that Black history is also British history.”

Why is Black History Month so important?

According to Gov.uk: “Ultimately, Black History is all of our history. Not only is it important to remember the achievements of Black people, but it’s important to recognise the that make us both unique and alike and to celebrate diversity.

Diverse teams are the best way to foster understanding of the needs of people from all backgrounds. It helps us understand how to relate with our colleagues, customers and society as a whole. Diversity fuels our innovation and helps create more vibrant and engaging workplaces.”

Black History Month gives individuals an opportunity to assist in creating a more inclusive workplace by removing racism. According to motivationalspeakersagency.co.uk:” Studies revealed that 60% of Black professionals still experience racism in the workplace, so a key motivator behind Black History Month is to highlight how people from such communities have made pivotal contributions to society.” If you would like to read more into the survey which contains these studies, then please click here.

How do I join in Black History Month?

You can join in Black History Month by:

• Sharing on social media – By sharing this article and other articles and information regarding Black History Month.

• Join an event hosted for Black History Month – Multiple events are being hosted by Black History Month and other collaborators throughout this month, if you would like to join an event, we recommend you to go to www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/listings.

• Read up about recent highlights – Black History Month posts recent highlights, including achievements, opinions and much more. If you would like to read up about Black History Month’s recent highlights, then please go to www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/section-tag/highlights.

• Research and share achievements and historical milestones of black people in the UK – There are lists of hundreds of achievements and key figures on the internet. For example, you could speak about Lewis Hamilton, the first black British man to join Formula 1.

If I can’t join in Black History Month, is there any other way to help?

You would like to donate to a charity focused on helping racial equality, we have listed a few below:

• Stop Hate UK – “Stop Hate UK is a leading anti-hate and anti-discrimination organisation for corporate, statutory and community sectors. Today, we operate the UK’s only free dedicated 24-hour anti-Hate Crime reporting service for all monitored strands of a person’s identity or perceived identity (Disability, Race, Faith, Sexual orientation and Transgender identity, as well as Age and Alternative subculture).” If you would like to donate to Stop Hate UK then please go to https://www.stophateuk.org/donate.

• Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI) – “We’re a charitable organisation that’s here to support victims of hate within our community. We also aim to promote equality and good relations between people with protected characteristics, as defined by law.” If you would like to donate to SARI then please go to https://saricharity.org.uk/help-us/donate.

• Runnymede – “Proudly independent, for over 50 years Runnymede’s esteemed research, analysis and policy development has provided the evidence to challenge racial injustice.” If you would like to donate to Runnymede then please go to https://www.runnymedetrust.org/donate.