Programs We Fund

Together, beyondblue and Movember are working to create awareness of depression and anxiety, and to break down stigma – which can sometimes prevent men from speaking up and getting the help they need.

Funds raised by the Movember community are dedicated to improving the mental health of men including men in rural, remote, regional and metro areas across Australia.

The facts

 

Movember supports the following beyondblue programs:

The Antidiscrimination Campaign focusing on the gay, lesbian, bi, trans and intersex (GLBTI) community
The beyondblue Support Service
beyondblue Community Access Program
Research into Men’s Health
The Shed Online
Movember-funded men’s mental health information resources
 

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Stop. Think. Respect. – End discrimination and bullying against GLBTI people

Movember is a major partner in beyondblue’s latest national awareness campaign ‘Stop. Think. Respect.’

The campaign aims to improve Australian's understanding of discriminatory behaviour and the impact of discrimination on the mental health of GLBTI communities. Campaign media includes TV, cinema and outdoor advertising, online and social media and is supported by six powerful personal stories of how discrimination impacts mental health.

The campaign asks us all to STOP the discrimination. THINK about how the things you say and do could cause real distress and harm; and RESPECT people who are different from you.
 

Discrimination and bullying are major contributing factors to depression and anxiety – and risk of suicide or self-harm. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans  or intersex (GLBTI) communities face widespread discrimination and prejudice which contributes to much higher rates of anxiety and depression than in the general population.

When compared with heterosexual people, in the last 12 months gay, lesbian and bisexual people were two to three times more likely to experience anxiety or depression. Research suggests that the impact of discrimination on mental health may be even higher for trans and intersex people.

If you are experiencing depression or anxiety please contact beyondblue at www.beyondblue.org.au or 1300 22 4636.

Check it out at www.lefthand.org.au.

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The beyondblue Support Service (1300 22 4636) - A call or mouse click away

In 2012, more than 70,000 calls and 2,895 emails were received by beyondblue Support Service from people seeking information about depression or anxiety, and details about how and where to get help. The 24-hour, seven-day-a-week service is staffed by trained mental health professionals.

This year, the service introduced a web chat function from 4–10pm (AEST) everyday for those who would prefer to chat online; in addition, callers can now request to speak to a male counsellor.

While the Support Service is accessible to anyone within Australia, beyondblue has specifically aimed to reach and support men across Australia, as men are less likely to access information and seek help from health services for depression and anxiety.  

Further information about the beyondblue Support Service can be found here

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beyondblue Community Access Program – Easy and affordable is the way forward

The beyondblue Community Access Program (or bbCAP) is being developed to provide easy access to affordable ‘low-intensity’ help for people with depression and anxiety where it’s not readily available now, and to reduce the burden on ‘high-intensity’ care.

It has been adapted from a successful UK model that achieved positive results including:

•    66% of those completing treatment experienced full recovery from depression, and 67% from anxiety.
•    Recovery rates in less time and at less cost than a traditional high-intensity approach and with four times  the number of patients being seen compared with traditional high-intensity therapy.

A feasibility study commissioned by beyondblue found overwhelming support for the trial of an Australian version of the UK program, which offers easy-to-access, affordable treatments for people with mild to moderate depression/anxiety. It utilises online e-therapy, telephone support and other forms of self-help strategies guided by trained professionals, which people can access via a central phone number rather than having to see a GP first – as is currently the case.  

In 2012, Movember funds have been used to conduct further research in the development of an Action Research Plan for a trial of the adapted model, with a focus on men.





Research – providing the means to improve health outcomes for men

beyondblue’s National Priority Driven Research (NPDR) Program funds critical research into depression and anxiety in priority populations groups.

Movember’s support of the NPDR Program has so far funded research into depression and anxiety in adolescent boys and young men, older men and fathers / expectant fathers.

The men’s stream of the program seeks to fund clinical or applied research projects that:

•    address help-seeking patterns and/or health service responses in regard to prevention, early intervention or treatment for depression and/or anxiety;
•    pilot novel prevention, early intervention, or treatment approaches for depression and/or anxiety;
•    provide evidence to drive improvements in prevention, early intervention or treatment approaches and methods;
•    address significant gaps in knowledge about efficacy and effectiveness of interventions;
•    provide evidence to influence mental health policy development and/or promote practice change.

beyondblue’s  research aims to fill the knowledge gaps around depression and anxiety, and enhance early intervention, treatment and pathways to care.

The strong evidence base coming out of this research is vital to the development of policies and practices that will lead to improved health outcomes for all men across Australia.

To find out more about beyondblue’s research, click here





The Shed Online - Movember funds build world’s biggest shed – online!

Funds raised by Mo Bros and Mo Sista’s have contributed to the creation of an important meeting place for men throughout Australia – The Shed Online! The Shed Online is a website where guys can meet, socialise, get advice for a particular project or hobby, and get health information.

To the end of August 2012, The Shed Online had.... Over 5,700 members Over 240,000 web visits! 10,500 discussion posts across more than 700 topics! The idea is modelled on the physical men’s shed movement that has been so popular across Australia. There are over 800 men’s sheds across Australia. These sheds are somewhere blokes can share advice about projects, or discuss anything that’s on their mind. The Shed Online is an important tool as it’s recognised that being isolated can be bad for your mental health. The online based community is perfect for those people who don’t have many opportunities to mix socially, particularly those who are in retirement.

The Shed Online is a joint project of beyondblue and the Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA), and is funded by The Movember Foundation.