Movember to boost access to mental health support for men in ground-breaking investment in Togetherall

We are delighted to announce that leading global men’s health charity, Movember will be investing $1.5million USD [£1.15million] funding in a strategic partnership with Togetherall’s community platform, which is currently available to over 10 million people worldwide.

The move is part of Movember’s strategy to build on its high-profile men’s mental health awareness campaigns by investing in online support that can be scaled up safely to meet the needs of large numbers of men.

Togetherall’s peer-to-peer mental health support community is available 24/7. It allows users to share their concerns anonymously, to get advice and support from fellow members while licensed and registered mental health practitioners monitor the community to ensure the safety and anonymity of all members.

Available in the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, the service is accessed through participating employers, universities, colleges, or healthcare providers. All UK armed forces personnel, veterans, and their families (16+) also have free access.

Currently, around a quarter (24%) of Togetherall users are men and the aim of the collaboration is to increase the number of men using the service.

The results of a six-month research project, commissioned by Movember looking at the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of men across the UK, Canada, and Australia, revealed over half (52%) of men suffered from poor wellbeing and over a quarter (26%) met the World Health Organisation’s criteria for depression. Globally, three out of four suicides are by men, and it remains the leading cause of death for men under the age of 44.

Michelle Terry, CEO at Movember, said: “We know from our own research that men’s mental health has been seriously impacted by the pandemic. But although awareness of mental health issues has never been higher, some men still seem to find it harder to take action when they need it.”

“We believe that online peer-to-peer mental health support could be a key part of the solution. Offering a space where men can share their experiences and work through their problems surrounded by a supportive community, while remaining anonymous, could remove some of the barriers that prevent them from opening up in the first place.”

– Michelle Terry, CEO, Movember.

“We have 18 years of experience in working with men – we know how to talk to them and what works for them. We are looking forward to working with Togetherall to further develop a tool that enables more men to manage their own mental health and achieve longer, healthier, happier lives.”

Togetherall’s CEO, Henry Jones, said: “As Movember’s research highlights, the scale of the impact that poor mental health is having on men requires urgent attention; this starts by breaking down barriers which prevent men from seeking support. Our aim is to make support seeking easier and address the need at scale.

“We are so proud that Movember has recognised the value in Togetherall’s community model and is investing with  us to together improve men’s mental health. “

– Henry Jones, CEO, Togetherall.

“With a purpose-driven mission and passionate team, Movember aligns with our social impact goals. By working alongside a well respected authority on men’s health, and by learning from their expertise, we will together engage with more men seeking support to improve their mental health.”