Programs We Fund

Funds raised by the Movember community are allowing beyondblue: the national depression initiative to carry out a number of key programs that are making a tangible difference to the lives of men and their families. This is hugely important when you consider that one in eight men in Australia will experience depression in their lifetime, and one in ten men will experience an anxiety disorder in any one year.

Together, beyondblue and Movember are working to create awareness of depression, anxiety and related conditions, and to break down stigma, which can sometimes prevent men speaking up, and getting treatment.

Funds raised by the Movember community have been dedicated to improving men's health in rural, remote, regional and metro areas across Australia.



Examples of Movember Funded Programs

Program 1: The Info Line (1300 22 4636)
The info line works as a national 24/7 telephone service providing depression and anxiety information, as well as acting as a referral service advising where further local help can be sought if needed.
 

Movember funds this service, which provides trained mental health professionals to help people any time; for the cost of a local call. In the six months from June to December 2010, over 44,000 calls were received.



Program 2: Research - Important Research into Men’s Health
The 2011 beyondblue National Priority Driven Research (NPDR) is a national grant funding round which funds critical research projects focused on mental health. Movember funding has allowed research grants for projects addressing depression and anxiety amongst adolescent boys and young men, older men and fathers/expectant fathers. This research will find out more about depression and anxiety in men, how to prevent it, how to promote help-seeking behaviour, how to treat it and how to stay well. 

All of beyondblue’s programs are based on extensive research.  This strong evidence base is vital to the development of policies and practices that will lead to improved health outcomes for all men in Australia. To find out more about the 2011 NPRD round visit www.beyondblue.org.au



Program 3: Movember Funded Men’s Health Materials
In 2010, beyondblue distributed over 370,000 FREE fact sheets, booklets and information cards to men and their families, friends or carers across Australia.  Funding from Movember allows beyondblue to continue to produce these high-quality, evidence-based resources about depression, anxiety and related disorders.



Movember has allowed beyondblue to continue to find ways of making important health information available to men and their families, such as the production of an audio version of the Taking Care of Yourself and Your Family book. Materials and information are available free of charge via the beyondblue info line 1300 22 46 36 or www.beyondblue.org.au



Program 4: Delivery of National Workplace Program Targeting Men
Depression and anxiety tend to affect Australians during their prime working years – the highest prevalence of depression in men is 35-44.



As a result, the workplace is an ideal setting to reach and deliver health and wellbeing messages. beyondblue takes its National Workplace Program to Movember community partners and participants.



Program 5: First Time Fathers
Movember funds a booklet called ‘Hey Dad’ that targets new fathers. Its creation is part of beyondblue’s campaign targeting at men who are about to become first time fathers; in recognition of the emotional impact fatherhood can have on men.





Program 6: Indigenous Hip Hop Projects
Movember funds have been put to use supporting Indigenous Hip Hop Projects to run hip hop workshops to communicate beyondblue messages to young Indigenous children in the Katherine region of Northern Territory.



IHHP promotes self-expression through movement, music and art, boosting morale and confidence and promoting positive social behaviours in remote communities. The workshops are run with beyondblue community partner, Hawthorn Football Club, during their AFL fostership program community tours in Katherine.



Program 7: The Shed Online - Movember funds build world’s biggest shed – online!
Funds raised by Mo Bros and Mo Sista’s have resulted in an important meeting place for men throughout Australia – The Shed Online! The Shed Online is a website where guys can get together and talk about ‘whatever’. 



The idea is that they can learn about projects they would do in a mate’s shed such as tinkering with cars or doing woodwork.... or they can talk about footy, fishing or life in general. This is an important new tool as it’s recognised that being isolated can be bad for your mental health and sometimes people don’t have many opportunities to get out and about and mix socially. 



Check out the online shed at www.theshedonline.org.au. The Shed Online is a joint project of beyondblue and the Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA), and is funded by The Movember Foundation.