BUSES with moustaches are travelling the Redlands to help raise awareness for men’s health.
Transport company Transdev has put tashes on 50 buses in their fleet, with male drivers also being urged to grow their own mo.
Transdev Queensland managing director Tilly Loughborough said staff were participating in the Movember fun, hosted on behalf of the Movember Foundation.
The foundation was set up to promote men’s physical and mental health, also raising funds to support patients with prostate and testicular cancer.
“By doing this we hope that we can help spread the message about men’s health, not only to our own people, but also to the people and communities we serve,” Ms Loughborough said.
Women were also encouraged to get more physically active and to raise funds, showing support for the cause, she said.
Metro South Addication and Mental Health Service spokesman Ken Meldrum said men faced significant health issues, with more needed to be done to help.
“Men are dying earlier than women, the majority of deaths by suicide are males and males don’t attend GPs for check ups as often as they should,” he said.
Mr Meldrum is hosting a free men’s health awareness night at Coochiemudlo Island Recreation Club on Wednesday, November 21 from 7pm to 8.30pm.
Topics including stress, depression, suicide and general health will all be covered.
Mr Meldrum, who chairs Redlands Coast Suicide Prevention Network, is also helping to host a suicide survivor loss remembrance day barbecue and activity day on November 17 at Raby Bay foreshore.
The event will be held along Masthead Drive from 10am to 2pm, with funds raised to be donated to the drought-stricken Eulo community in south-west Queensland.
The day’s theme is “Embracing the Spirit of Loved Ones, Past and Present”.
A remembrance service and activities including kayaking, stand-up paddling, live entertainment and more are all planned.
Suicide claims more than 2000 lives every year across Australia.
Mr Meldrum said men were more vulnerable to suicide but women presented more frequently to hospital emergency departments with suicidal ideations.
He said of the six people who died across Australia everyday from suicide, at least four were men.
“It is not a mental health issue, it is a society issue,” he said.
“We need to work together to reduce the rate.”
Visit peak body Australian Men’s Health Forum at amhf.org.au for more.
