As shocking as this it may sound, suicide is sadly the leading cause of death amongst Australian men with six such male deaths in this country every day.
On average, one in eight men will experience depression and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives.
Scary statistics when you consider that depression is a high-risk factor for suicide.
Our grandfathers, dads, partners, brothers, sons and friends face a health crisis that isn’t being talked about. We can’t afford to stay silent.
Enter Movember
Movember is a charity that aims to stop men from dying too young by addressing some of the biggest health issues faced by men: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention.
From November 1, guys across the globe grow their mo’s to save a bro. For 30 days these men become walking, talking billboards, raising awareness for the often-ignored issues of men’s health by prompting conversations wherever they go.
Another crucial part of the crusade is to raise funds for the cause. Men donate their face and, much like taking part in a run or a walk for charity, ask their family and friends to sponsor their efforts.
Starting with a measly 30 moustachioed members in 2003, the movement has gained serious global momentum, inspiring over 5 million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas and raising over AUD $600 million to date.
Whilst dealing with a very serious topic, the endless fundraising options can be wildly creative and associated moustache-related matters quite amusing.
So, to honour and celebrate Movember 2017 and its commendable commitment to changing the face (literally) of men’s health, we’ve compiled a file of fascinating mo-related facts that you may not know.
25 Fun Facts about Fuzz
Transplants are a Trend
In the Middle East, there is a growing trend for moustache transplants, a procedure called follicular unit extraction in order to attain fuller, more impressive facial hair.
World’s Longest Moustache
According to Guinness World Records, the longest moustache (ever) belongs to Indian man Ram Singh Chauhau. It measures 4.29 metres (14 feet) long and he has been growing it since 1982, after a friend with a 7-foot-long moustache suggested it.
World’s Largest Moustache
A Minnesota couple add the world’s largest moustache to the list of the World’s Largest Things. Sitting in their front yard is a nearly 12-foot wide, bright red, handlebar moustache which sets the new world record according to the World Record Academy.
World’s Largest Meeting of Moustaches
The largest gathering of false moustaches wearers is 6,471 people and was achieved in 2015 by University of Colorado Health and the Denver Broncos in Denver, Colorado, USA. The moustaches were orange to match the Broncos’ team colours.
Most Wins at the World Moustache Championships
German man Karl-Heinz Hille holds the record for the most wins at the annual World Beard and Moustache Championships, having won 8 championships between 1999 and 2011. Congrats Karl!
Moustache Means Manliness
A traditional Indian belief is that a man’s facial hair is a sign of his virility. During the British Raj in the 19th Century, the British Army had difficulty maintaining authority among the Indian soldiers, who saw their officers’ lack of facial hair as a lack of manliness. British officers began to cultivate moustaches to gain the respect of their troops, a trend spreading quickly through the army and then back home amongst the general population.
‘Staches are Sexy
Gentlemen may prefer blondes however according to science, women prefer men with facial hair to their clean-shaven counterparts. Numerous recent studies show that women are more attracted to men with moustaches whilst smooth-faced sons were rated the lowest on the overall sexiness scale.
Youngest Woman with a Moustache (and Full Beard)
Harnaam Kaur, a 24-year-old British Sikh model, entered the Guinness World Records in September 2016 as the youngest female with a beard. “I hope those who read or see my record can take away positivity, inspiration and realise that no matter who you are or what you look like, you are officially amazing!” she wrote on Instagram. Harnaam, who was bullied due to her facial hair that began to grow due to polycystic ovary syndrome at 11 years old, hopes that her achievement would inspire others to believe in themselves.
Whiskered Woman
A housewife, who since the age of 17 has battled hirsutism, stopped shaving to grow a beard and moustache for Movember. Until now, Siobhain Fletcher 36, from Leek, Staffordshire, has shaved every other day to keep her hair at bay. But after being inspired by a friend who was growing a moustache for Movember, Siobhain decided to embrace her facial hair, raising awareness and donating £700 to the cause.
World’s Longest Lasting Moustache
Experts who exhumed the body of surreal artist Salvador Dali to collect samples for use in a paternity claim have revealed that his trademark moustache still graces his face almost three decades after he died. The embalmer who tended Dalí’s body after his death in 1989 and helped with the exhumation, said “His moustache is still intact, [like clock hands at] 10 past 10, just as he liked it. It’s a miracle.” He predicted Dalí’s best known feature would last a good while longer saying, “The moustache is still there and will be for centuries.”
Bushy is Not Always Best
Donald Trump rejected Secretary of State candidate John Bolton over his bushy moustache, adviser reveals. Several of Mr Trump’s associates said they thought that Bolton’s brush-like moustache was one of the factors that handicapped the former United Nations ambassador in the sweepstakes for the role. “Donald was not going to like that moustache,” said one anonymously. “I can’t think of anyone that’s really close to Donald that has a beard that he likes.”
Law and Mo’Order
In Bombay, it was once a capital offence to paint a moustache on a sleeping woman. In Eureka, Nevada, it is illegal for men with moustaches to kiss women.
Moustachioed Monsters
The leucauge mariana female spider prefers to mate with a male with a hairy mouth. If a male tickles a female with his facial hair whilst mating she is more likely to carry on and to produce a ‘genital plug’ that stops other rival spiders being able to mate with her. When scientists shaved the male spiders their female counterparts lost interest in mating with them.
Bearded Biddy
Famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo adamantly refused to remove her trademark moustache, often using a pencil to make it darker.
Can’t Grow it? Tattoo it
The Ainu people of Japan traditionally tattooed moustaches on their daughters by rubbing soot into small knife cuts.
Tache Tableware
Did you know that the moustache spoon is an actual thing – used in Edwardian England to protect the moustache while eating soup? The moustache cup is an actual thing too. Invented by Harvey Adams in order not to drown his moustache in tea, these purpose-built tea cups were made with a slit ledge projecting from the front side of the rim, allowing the tea to flow through while a gentleman’s moustache remains dry.
A Time to Grow
Moustaches grow more quickly in summer compared to winter time when most men actually want a thick beard. Why is this? Well facial hair growth depends on the male sex hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). During the sunny, vitamin D-packed summer months, testosterone production is generally at its highest, resulting in greater goatee growth.
A Time to Trim
The average man spends six months of his life shaving and moustache grooming (assuming he begins around 15 and lives to be around 75).
Hair One Day…
Dolphins may look smooth but they are born with a moustache to help them locate and feel their mother when they are nursing. Because of swimming it falls out pretty quickly.
Money to be Made
Police in India’s Madhya Pradesh state are sometimes paid bonuses to grow their moustaches, because they’re believed to command more respect.
Shell Shocked
Before the advent of razors, hair was sometimes removed using two shells to pull the hair out. Ouch! Thank goodness copper razors were developed around 3000 BC.
Mo Mop
Moustaches are capable of absorbing 20 per cent of their own weight in liquid, which makes them very handy in the event of spillage. Yuk.
If you Touch it, it might Fall off…
The average man will touch his moustache upwards of 750 times per day, averaging 31.25 times an hour.
Not without my Mo
Albert Einstein was not seen without his moustache for over 50 years.
To Serve and Protect
A study by the University of Southern Queensland in Australia found that facial hair can protect skin and prevent skin cancer by deflecting 90 to 95 per cent of harmful UV rays.
Free Fakes
In 1967, The Beatles included cardboard moustaches in their album, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, because the band members were all sporting moustaches on the cover.
A Daily Measure for Good Mental Health
Trivia and jokes aside, despite its prevalence amongst men, anxiety and depression is not gender specific with one in four Australians experiencing anxiety throughout their lifetime.
Anyone with mental health issues, suffering from depression or anxiety needs to seek professional help. However, there are daily measures we can all take to try to maintain good mental health, a healthy diet being one of them.
The body of evidence linking diet and mental health is growing at a rapid pace. Research indicates that food plays an important role in the management and prevention of mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Good nutrition is essential for our mental well-being yet food production techniques, our hectic lifestyles and increasing access to processed foods mean that our intake of fresh, nutritious, local produce is much lower.
We Need to Find New Ways to Incorporate the Essential Nutrition our Body Needs into our Diet
Herbal Fix’s Relax is a drink with all of this in mind.
Relax contains a delicious blend of organic herbs, vitamins and minerals, all of which are known to promote a sense of relaxation and calm.
Each 300ml can unleashes into your body the power of herbs and vitamins such as Valerian, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Aloe Vera, Rosemary, Vitamin A (Beta-Carotene), Vitamin B3, Vitamin C and Magnesium, all of which have been independently researched and known to have many physical and health benefits.
All of these nutrients are combined as a great tasting herbal beverage, creating a quick and easy way to provide your body with nutrients and vitamins it may be lacking in one convenient drink.
Next time you need to switch off try Herbal Fix’s Relax, scientifically formulated to help you unwind naturally.
Whether it’s starting your own campaign or supporting someone else’s, both men and women can get involved by choosing to grow, move or host by signing up at au.movember.com.
If you, or someone you know is suffering from depression, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
One in every four Australians will experience anxiety, take the beyond blue checklist https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety-and-depression-checklist-k10
You can also find this article on The Fix Bulletin HERE
