SOURCE: Movember Canada
November 19, 2014 05:30 ET
TORONTO, ON–(Marketwired - November 19, 2014) - The Movember Foundation is proud to announce $7.9 million in funding for men’s mental health programs, through its Canadian Mental Health Initiative.
The funding comes from the Foundation’s request for collaborative project ideas aimed at improving the mental health and wellbeing of men and boys. Three large-scale collaborative team grants with a focus on diverse populations have been awarded funding. The funding is part of the Foundation’s continued commitment to men’s mental health. Together with this initiative the Movember Foundation has invested over $22.6 million into 27 men’s mental health and well-being projects across Canada.
In Canada 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental health problem each year, about 11% of men will experience major depression in the course of their lives, and almost 5% of men will experience an anxiety disorder. In line with the Movember Foundation’s strategic goals, the Canadian Mental Health initiative aims to address one or more of the following priority areas; creating mentally healthy workplaces and workers, strengthening the mental health and well-being of men and boys, reducing the number of men and boys who die by suicide, and strengthening social and emotional skills in young men and boys. Proposals were submitted in August 2014, reviewed, rated and ranked by an independent panel of international mental health experts, which included representation from across Canada.
“It’s with thanks to our Mo Bros and Mo Sistas that sign up every Movember that we are able to provide programs to men in need of mental health support,” said Pete Bombaci, Country Director, Movember Canada. “The power of the moustache is helping to break down barriers and allows us to invest in such incredible programs that are helping to improve the lives of those men living with and beyond mental health issues.”