‘Men are dying too young. We can’t afford to stay silent’
Illustration by Sage Blackwell.
Movember, a men’s health initiative held in November every year, is being supported once again by the University of Victoria’s fraternity.
Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) has supported the men’s health movement many times in the past, and not just during the month of November.
“Mental health is an important thing,” said Tyler Bradley, DKE’s chair of philanthropy.
Movember’s official website showcases the organization’s three main focus points: mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. Since their start in 2003, the organization has supported more than 1 250 men’s health projects. DKE has raised $10 000 in the past for men’s health issues. With events launching in support of Movember this month, the fraternity’s goal this year is to raise at least $5 000.
This year the fraternity is planning bigger and better things. With new partnerships with other university fraternities, they plan to spread awareness about men’s health on a larger scale. “We’re just trying to add more awareness about [men’s health] and try[ing] to spread it past just Victoria,” said Bradley.
In collaboration with other fraternities, DKE intends to visit other university campuses and hold events to raise awareness and fundraise for the Movember organization. They also strive towards joint Instagram posts and social media promotion to attract a larger audience.
While the fraternity’s main aim is awareness, events also allow them to showcase the importance of men’s health. According to Bradley, bringing people together to support an initiative, such as Movember, highlights the importance of the cause itself.
“I care about [Movember] and how much it matters, and I want you to see that too,” he said.
“[Men’s health] is something that we do hold very important. That’s why we hold Movember every year. We think that it’s something that’s a little unrepresented in society,” Bradley added.
Though many people grow moustaches in November to show their support, it’s not just about them. According to Bradley, Movember is a time to promote overall wellness and highlight the unfortunate amount of men being diagnosed with cancer.
“Men are dying too young. We can’t afford to stay silent.” This eye-catching phrase is the central message on Movember’s website.
DKE has worked to create a culture of support within the fraternity, and Bradley hopes to extend this culture beyond their organization. With a proper support system, people may feel more empowered to access mental health support and other health resources they may need.
“It’s not that [people] ignore it, but they don’t know about mental health. They don’t know about these support systems that exist,” said Bradley. “[Awareness is] one of the biggest deals about holding these events.”
No matter how you support men with their health concerns, it matters. “If you are running an event, if you’re a part of it, if you just know about it; everyone equally matters,” said Bradley.
