Tonight I speak about Movember, the international fundraiser for prostate cancer and men's mental health. Created in Melbourne over a few beers with friends, it was the brainchild of Adam Garone, whose initial idea was simply to bring back the "mo" as a fashion statement.
When Adam and his 30 mates started the campaign he was shocked by the number of conversations that were created, asking why they were growing a moustache. That raised an amount of controversy from girlfriends and bosses who, at the time, would not even let them see clients. And that is the whole point—it started a conversation. It raised awareness and it had an impact. On the back of that Adam decided to add a cause—changing the face of men's health. The best descriptor of the challenge is changing one's appearance and then changing men's attitudes and understanding about their health.
What started as a bit of fun has now become one of Australia's largest fundraising and awareness campaigns. Last year more than 130,000 Australians got involved, raising $24.7 million. Globally, more than 450,000 participants raised more than $72 million. It just goes to show how a spark can create a fire. Movember is an important initiative; it is a game changer for creating awareness and putting the spotlight on men's health. It creates the platform for the discussions that we need to have on mental health and prostate cancer, and it plays a pivotal role in reducing the stigmatisation in men's health. This year 20,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, with one man every three hours sadly losing his fight with the disease. Research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has shown that prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer to be diagnosed in Australia, and it is the second greatest cause of cancer deaths in men. Funds raised from Movember will enable the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia to conduct necessary research on reducing the risks and growth of the disease.
This year more than one million people in New South Wales will have experienced a mental illness. As many as one in eight men will experience serious depression in their lifetimes, and we know that the suicide rate is four times higher for men than it is for women. As many as four young men aged between 15 and 24 will take their lives each week. I think members would agree with me that that figure needs to be reduced. Beyondblue, the national depression initiative will also receive funds raised from Movember to enable the organisation to continue to carry out its important work. The success of prior Movember campaigns has resulted in the establishment of a 24-hour telephone service that provides information on depression and anxiety, and acts as a referral service.
The contribution that beyondblue makes to the mental health sector is invaluable. I spoke in my inaugural speech about how important it is to create an awareness of mental health, suicide prevention and early intervention. This work can be supported through organisations such as beyondblue. With suicide being the leading cause of death in New South Wales for those aged between 15 and 44 years, we must put our front foot forward in bringing about change in the area of mental health. I am proud to be part of a Government that is pioneering such efforts. Through a record investment of $1.34 billion in mental health announced in the 2011-12 budget, the O'Farrell Government is taking its first steps in what ultimately will lead to significant mental health reform.
We must all play a role in ensuring that our mental health system is as strong as it possibly can be. In my electorate I regularly engage with residents, businesses and organisations about the importance of reducing the stigmatisation around mental health and ensuring that services are readily available so that no person should ever be unsure as to who or where he or she can talk to someone. Being able to have that conversation, knowing where it is that one can turn to get help literally can save lives. I would like to see people throughout New South Wales use Movember as an opportunity to step up the fight against the stigma and discrimination that surrounds mental health.
Big steps have been taken towards changing attitudes and habits relating to the health of men around the world, but there is still much to be done. I am proud to be an ambassador for the Movember cause and I encourage my colleagues and the New South Wales community as a whole to support this initiative. It is my hope that any of my constituents who see me wearing a moustache will immediately recognise that it is to make a difference on this important health issue. We must start the conversation, we must fund the research and we must collectively change the face of men's health.
Dr ANDREW McDONALD (Macquarie Fields) [7.17 p.m.]: I thank the member for Hornsby for raising this important initiative and I thank the member for Camden who will speak in debate on this issue. Movember, a wonderful initiative, is like many great ideas—it was thought of when a bunch of men had a chance to reflect on their lives. Unfortunately, this is something that men do far too infrequently which is one of the reasons why their death rate remains higher than that of women. A child born today in New South Wales will have the second longest life expectancy in the world. However, Movember is vital for improving the health of older men.
Prostate cancer is the subject of much debate at the moment. The reality in relation to prostate cancer is that there is much that we do not know. Prostate cancer is common. There is a fierce debate about the pros and cons of prostate specific antigen [PSA] screening, which is why initiatives such as Movember are vital to ensure that men are given accurate advice as to their own risk of contracting prostate cancer. Unfortunately at the moment we know so little that men frequently are not given the advice that they need to make choices that ultimately will affect not only their lives but the lives of family members.
Depression is the disease of the twenty-first century. The incidence of depression has never been higher, and unfortunately it will blight the lives of many men. One of the highest risk groups is older men, who frequently lack the social support that the workplace provides, especially when they retire. Their lack of meaningful engagement in the community is a leading cause of isolation, which predisposes them to depression and which far too often goes unrecognised. Today I noticed in this place that many of my colleagues and opponents are sprouting moustaches. It reminds me of the halcyon days of the 1970s when we all had moustaches and the world was a better place. We can never return to the 1970s, but at least many of us can look as though we have. Some of my colleagues have more hair on their face than on their head, which is not always a good look.
As a result of cancer research, a diagnosis of prostate cancer is no longer a death sentence. However, as is true of all cancers, progress in its treatment has been patchy. That is yet another reason that Movember is vital. Every man who participates in Movember is a walking billboard, which is important because raising awareness of prostate cancer and depression does not come easily. Although they should be discussed more freely, they rarely are. To date, Movember has raised $24.7 million for research. That is an extraordinary achievement because prior to its commencement prostate cancer was one of the forgotten cancers and far too little money was spent on research. Each year 20,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, which is why the research is so vital.
In contrast, one million men will develop a mental illness. For far too many that readily treatable condition becomes the cause of much unrecognised sorrow; for far too many the first sign of depression is suicide; for far too many that is prior to seeking medical help but frequently after they have indicated their unhappiness to a family member who has been unable to encourage them to seek the medical help that may save their life. Depression is not confined to old men. This year's child death review report indicates that 14 young people committed suicide, of whom two-thirds were male. Of them, nine had confided in a family member. Even though older men are over-represented in suicide statistics, younger people will also be greatly helped by Movember. In these days of record mental health budgets—and I note the comments of the member for Hornsby with regard to mental health—the reality is that until it is everybody's problem the professionals can only do so much. That is because frequently the first, and sometimes the last, person to know is a trusted family member or friend.
I commend the courage of politicians and community leaders who have led the State in the discussion of mental health. I refer specifically Geoff Kennett and John Brogden, whom I spoke about in this place last year. He gave a most inspiring speech to community leaders in Macarthur about his mental illness and the wonderful work he does with Lifeline. He has shown what a great community leader he is. He is also a wonderful advocate for making the world a better place. I commend him for his work on depression and his leadership on this issue. The worldwide Movember movement is all about education and the engagement of the 1.3 million Mo Bros and their female supporters, the Mo Sistas. Men must change their established habit of keeping their concerns to themselves and they must support their colleagues. As of last year, more than 100,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas had got on board and raised an extraordinary amount of money. However, more importantly, they have increased community awareness of these two difficult issues, and for that they deserve our never-ending thanks.
Mr CHRIS PATTERSON (Camden) [7.25 p.m.]: This is a matter of public importance because of men's reluctance to talk with their family, friends, partners and doctors about health issues. It is well known that awareness, understanding and support of men's health issues lags significantly behind that of women's health issues. Movember works to change the established habits and attitudes that men have with regard to their health, to educate men about the health risks they face and to get them to use that knowledge to increase their chance of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment. Movember raises awareness and funds for men's health issues, specifically prostate cancer and male depression. Men will grow a moustache for 30 days and in that time raise funds by registering on the Movember website and encouraging friends, family and anyone else to donate.
Growing a moustache is a significant tool in raising awareness and gaining support for this great cause. The moustache is an easy conversation starter and it encourages people to approach a man would not normally grow one in a fun and light-hearted way. Already I have been asked whether my moustache is modelled after a 1980s television star or is a tribute to Freddie Mercury. I wish everyone who has asked whether I am participating in Movember would donate to the cause because I have been amazed by the number of people who have responded. That is clearly a credit to the organisers for the public awareness campaign they are running. These conversations are important in getting people to think about this issue and also in allowing them to raise much-needed funds for this well-deserving cause at au.movember.com.
Every moustache seen this November will be a walking advertisement for Movember and men's health. Funds raised will equally support Movember's men's health partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and beyondblue, the national depression initiative. Since Movember started in 2003 in Melbourne, more than 1.1 million people worldwide have participated and they have raised more than $178 million, with $25 million raised last year in Australia alone. Movember has official campaigns in 10 countries. Women are huge supporters and can get involved in a number of ways. Without their support Movember would not be as successful as it is. With the event's continued growth, Movember will continue to meet strategic goals to fund survivorship initiatives that provide information and support for men and their families affected by prostate cancer and depression. It will significantly increase the understanding of the health risks that men face and encourage men to act on that knowledge, increase the understanding of depression and anxiety in men, and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. It will fund research and trials for prostate cancer and research that informs health policy and knowledge translation that accelerates improved health outcomes for men.
On average, men die five to six years younger than women, the suicide rate for men is four times higher than that of women, more than five men die prematurely each hour from potentially preventable illnesses and one-third of men have not seen a doctor in the past year. My motivation to support this cause is that sadly my best man committed suicide in 2001 and a very close friend and council colleague David Funnell thankfully beat prostate cancer in 2002. I am very proud to be an ambassador for Movember with my good mate Matt Kean, the member for Hornsby. We have a challenge to see which electorate can raise the most money for this great cause. I have also seen Tim Owen, the member for Newcastle, and Darren Webber, the member for Wyong, sporting very stylish moustaches. I commend them for their efforts. The member for Newcastle, having had a distinguished career in the Royal Australian Air Force, is starting to look like he could be very at home in the Navy. I commend two extremely hardworking parliamentary staffers, Nick Tyrell and John McCormack, who have both taken the Movember challenge. Well done, fellows, on a great effort. Men need Movember and Movember needs our support. I urge members to support this matter of public importance.
Mr MATT KEAN (Hornsby) [7.30 p.m.], in reply: I take this opportunity to thank the members of this body for their support for and interest in this important matter. In particular, I note the contributions of the member for Macquarie Fields and the member for Camden, both of whom have longstanding commitments to making a difference in this place. We have come to this place to leave our State and our communities in a better state than we found them. We came here to build a future. So tonight I am delighted to have an opportunity to talk about an issue central to that future—that is, the issue of improving men's health. I am not the first member of this place to take up the issue, and I am certainly determined not to be the last.
As I said earlier, the aim of the campaign is not just to raise money for vital research into men's health issues: The most powerful and important aspect of the campaign is to raise awareness. When Adam Garone and his 30 mates started the campaign he was shocked by the number of conversations that were created, asking why they were growing a moustache. And that is the point: it started a conversation, it raised awareness, and it is now achieving its ultimate goal—to reduce the rate of death through prostate cancer and to destigmatise issues about men's mental health.
I take this opportunity to recognise the organisations that are supporting this important initiative—NIB, Schick, Cool Ridge and Call of Duty. It is pleasing to see the private sector also supporting this important campaign. The organisers claim that the event is the laziest charity event in the world. I guess that is true: one does not have to run, swim, ride or even shave for that matter—as my upper lip would attest. At its heart Movember is fun and irreverent. It is an opportunity once a year for those of us who want to do our bit to improve men's health.
As the member for Macquarie Fields mentioned, for too long we have accepted the stereotypical view of what it was to be an Australian male: one who is rough and tough and is not concerned about his health or lifestyle. In the past it has been a badge of honour for men to ignore the health warnings. It has not been a macho thing to get help when it is needed. This campaign aims to end that—to destigmatise the issues of mental health and prostate cancer and to encourage help-seeking behaviour. These issues should be above politics, and I am delighted to see people from across the political spectrum here tonight in support of the cause. Concern for the issues of prostate cancer and mental health are not a Liberal feeling or a National feeling, nor are they a Greens feeling or a Labor feeling. It is something that will take our collective resolve and determination if we are truly committed to winning the battle.
I understand that the challenge is great. I understand that the road ahead has much uncertainty and that the resources of government are constrained. The safe option of course is to do nothing, to put it in the too hard basket and to leave it for someone else to solve. But that is not what this time calls for. That is certainly not what we came here to do. We did not come here to fear challenges; we came here to solve them. I believe we can all make a difference even when it is hard. Adam Garone was one Aussie bloke who made a difference. Let us combine our collective determination and resources to beat these challenges once and for all.
Discussion concluded.
