‘Be a man of more words’, urges Movember on World Suicide Prevention Day
‘Talking saves lives’ is the message behind Movember’s World Suicide Prevention Day campaign, created by Cummins & Partners with Goodoil Films.
The campaign puts the spotlight on men who live a quiet life, keep to themselves, are known as ‘good listeners’ and leave the pub without dishing out extensive goodbyes – and urges them to ‘be a man of more words’ if they aren’t feeling quite right.
The Movember Foundation said suicide is the leading cause of death in Australian men aged 15 to 44, with 2,000 men losing their lives this way each year.
Three out of four suicides are men, so Craig Martin, global director of mental health and suicide prevention at the Movember Foundation, said there was a need to talk specifically to men.
“One minute of silence is society’s way of reflecting on and honouring significant deaths. However, in the case of suicide, it is the silence which is killing men. So, to change this, we are encouraging men to speak out for one minute on World Suicide Prevention Day,” he said.
“We know gender plays an important role, which is why we’re talking specifically to me, equipping them to recognise the signs when they’re not doing so well, and to talk up when times get tough.
“We’re hoping to show men that to be the best version of themselves – to be better dads, mates and sons – they need to be men of more words. We want men and their supporters to know that talking, more and with more meaningful words, saves lives.”
Adam Slater, associate creative director at Cummins & Partners, said there are some problems which can’t be solved with a grunt.
Outdoor executions of the campaign by Cummins & Partners
“We all know a man of few words. I’ve been described as one myself. But unfortunately for men like us, there are some problems that can’t be solved with a grunt, or a few mumbled syllables. It’s in these times that every man, no matter how verbally challenged, needs to find a way to become a man of more words, and tell someone what’s really going on.”
Man of More Words kicks off a month-long campaign by the Movember Foundation, aimed at encouraging meaningful conversations around men’s mental health as a way to ultimately reduce the high rate of male suicide.
The campaign will run globally and will also include radio, press and outdoor.
A website has also been created to help people understand how to get the men in their lives to open up.
