This morning, leading men's health charity Movember have pledged $59.5 million to Indigenous men health across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Canada, and the USA over the next seven years. With Australian First Nation communities and organisations set to receive a $17.6 million of those funds to help supercharge the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boys and men.
Why is this funding needed?
Right now, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men face some pretty big challenges when it comes to their health. They experience higher rates of chronic disease, mental ill-health, mortality, and substance misuse. And sadly, their suicide rates are more than double that of non-Indigenous men. A reality that was highlighted with the tragic suicide of a 10-year-old Aboriginal boy recently.
To achieve better health outcomes, we must develop more programs and services rooted in Aboriginal culture and grounded in holistic health principles.
By listening to the voices of Aboriginal people, at a grassroots level, and getting them involved in the planning and implementation of mental health initiatives, we can create real sustainable change. Tapping into local wisdom, traditional healing practices, and community support systems. That’s the best way to deliver impact. Because when people feel invested, they're more likely to jump in, participate, and reap the benefits.
We have some great content to support this announcement, which is available to review/download here: https://movember.box.com/s/et5wkvbpk9fdwhf7cswa7c30tyuubxv7
This includes b-roll, interviews, photography, and soundbites captured at The Glen Centre in NSW, where we currently fund a Cultural Warriors Program, which is designed to support Indigenous men on their journey to recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.
We're excited to help forge a healthier future for our First Nations people & we really hope that you will support us in spreading the word.
Thanks so much.
About us:
About The Movember Institute of Men's Health
Building on a 20-year legacy of investment in men’s physical and mental health, with nearly $1 billion globally to date, The Movember Institute of Men's Health has ambitious goals to enhance quality of life for millions of men worldwide. Uniting global experts in the field of men’s health to accelerate research and translate it into tangible, real-world outcomes.
The Institute aims to elevate the profile of men's health with policymakers so that it is considered proportionally to the burden of disease associated with men's health. By focusing on key areas such as men’s mental health, prostate and testicular cancers, gender-specific healthcare, and men's health literacy, The Movember Institute of Men's Health aims to combat preventable risk factors, which contribute to 77% of male deaths and 54% of healthy years of life lost[1], and make sustainable gains to men’s health internationally.
[1] IHME GBD. Citation: Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network.. Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019) Results.. Seattle, United States: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), 2020.
Contact details:
Kristy Ward
Global Communications Lead
+61 412 556 441