The Movember Foundation Pioneers 'Making Connections' Mental Health Initiative

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Movember Foundation, committed to helping men live happier, healthier and longer lives, is proud to announce Making Connections, an initiative that aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of men and boys in the US. Co-created with Prevention Institute, Making Connections employs an innovative approach that leverages the power of connections to develop and implement actionable, community-level prevention plans to improve mental health across the US. 

The Making Connections initiative is guided by the Movember Foundation's funded report on the mental health landscape titled 'Making Connections for Mental Health and Wellbeing Among Men and Boys in the US'. Created by Prevention Institute, the report confirms that mental health problems are pervasive and extensive in the US and building resilience is a critical protective factor for mental wellbeing.

"One of the Movember Foundation's key areas of focus is mental health, and Making Connections is an investment in creating scalable models to improve the mental health and wellbeing of men and boys throughout the US," says Mark Hedstrom, SVP of Global Operations at the Movember Foundation. "There's a dire need to address this public health crisis, and Making Connections allows us to foster conversations and positive changes with men and boys where they are, in their community."

"From a very young age, boys in the US learn that they shouldn't cry, they should be self-reliant, and they should tough out pain and hardship," said Sheila Savannah, Prevention Institute's director for Making Connections. "Being socialized this way often encourages them to stifle emotional expression and discourages coping mechanisms such as accepting or asking for help when they may need it. It's time to develop broad, community-based strategies that support mental health and wellbeing among men and boys – to lift up and learn more about the approaches that make a difference for those in greatest need."

Making Connections funds 16 organizations in the US and prioritizes those who have a particularly high need for community-level attention to mental wellbeing, such as veterans, and men and boys of color and their families.

The following organizations have received funding to develop and implement Making Connections programs: Boston Local Initiatives Support Corporation (Boston, MA), New Orleans Health Department (New Orleans, LA), Violence Prevention Coalition (Los Angeles, CA), Houston Department of Health and Human Services (Houston, TX), HopeHealth, Inc. (Florence, SC), Southern Plains Tribal Health Board (Oklahoma City, OK), Sinai Health System (Chicago, IL), Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (Tacoma, WA), New Mexico Department of Health (Los Lunas, NM), Lao Family Community Empowerment (Stockton, CA), Denver Department of Human Services (Denver, CO), United Women of East Africa (San Diego, CA), Kokua Kalihi Valley (Honolulu, HI), Nebraska Association of Local Health Directors (Lincoln, NE), Kankakee Community College (Kankakee, IL), and Farmington Valley Health District (Canton, CT).

For more information, visit Movember.com and the Making Connections Report Card. To contribute to conversations about mental health, tune in to Movember on social on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.   

About the Movember Foundation
The Movember Foundation is the only global charity focused solely on men's health. The Foundation raises funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programs that enable men to live happier, healthier, and longer lives. Awareness and fundraising activities are run year-round by the Foundation, with the annual Movember campaign being globally recognized for its fun, disruptive approach to fundraising and getting men to take action for their health. During Movember, men are challenged to grow a moustache, and men and women can be physically active and move or host a fundraising event. Not only do these commitments raise vital funds, they also generate powerful and often life-changing conversations. Millions have joined the movement to disrupt the status quo, raising $710M and funding over 1,200 programs focused on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.

The Foundation's vision is to have an everlasting impact on men's health.

Movember is fully accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and for the past four years, has been named a Top 100 best NGO by The Global Journal. For more information please visit Movember.com. Movember is a registered 501(c)(3) charity.

About Prevention Institute
Prevention Institute is a nonprofit, national center dedicated to improving community health and wellbeing by building momentum for effective primary prevention. Primary prevention means taking action to build resilience and prevent problems before they occur. The Institute's work is characterized by a strong commitment to community participation and promotion of equitable health outcomes among all social and economic groups.

PRESS CONTACT:
Shanetta McDonald
Movember Foundation
1-310-450-3331
[email protected]

Or

Jessica Berthold
Prevention Institute
1-510-444-7738 ext. 317
[email protected]

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SOURCE The Movember Foundation

Related Links

https://www.movember.com