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Get ready to grow, groom, and give back
We wanted to use Movember as a launch pad for our commitment in raising awareness of mental health issues amongst our male students and to develop the support we offer. This is not the end; this is just the beginning. Our objectives are to increase awareness, reduce stigma around mental health issues, encourage early intervention, enhance student experience, and improve academic performance.
Movember sees men across the world grow moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men's health and mental wellbeing.
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Focusing on male student health
Research by the National Union of Students (NUS) in 2020 found that male students are less likely to seek help for mental health problems compared to female students, leading to a higher risk of serious consequences such as substance abuse, academic difficulties, and suicide.
While this is serious in itself, a 2024 Movember report found that men in the UK, compared with women, are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, have high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and use drugs. In 2021, men in England were more likely to be classed as overweight/obese (i.e. with a BMI of 25+) than women (69% vs 59%). Men are also more likely to die from substance abuse (35% more likely than women), self-harm and interpersonal violence (109%) and transport injuries (85%).
The high risk activities often undertaken by men, coupled with the reluctance to reach out and talk to others and seek support is a real worry for many. We’re not just looking at men here, the impact on men’s health influences not only the men themselves, but friends, girlfriends, partners, family, lecturers, tutors and anyone you know.
What happened for 2025
This Movember, we are building on last year's successful campaign in shining a spotlight on male student’s mental health. Over the month we will be bringing you videos and blogs from our male students, who openly talk about their mental health struggles and the importance in reaching out for help.
We’ll be sharing support tips for you, your friends and anyone you know and where you can access the support. We’ll be across campus to provide spaces for you to come and talk with our team from Student Life. We’ll also give you the low-down on all events taking place for men’s mental health throughout November as well as the fundraising total for Movember 2025.
We will also launch our podcast, a four-part series produced by Student Life and Student Wellbeing. Each episode will cover a range of important topics, including the stigma surrounding seeking help, suicide, masculinity, and much more. Listeners can expect to hear real stories, personal reflections, and valuable guidance on accessing support.
How you can get involved
The great news is, anyone can help raise awareness for men’s health this Movember:
- Grow a Mo and raise funds - Grow a moustache and raise funds for men’s mental health at the University of Portsmouth. Help us reach our fundraising target of £18,000. We are also close to raising over £100,000 for Movember since we started fundraising.
- Move for Movember - Walk or run 60km this month as part of Movember. This is for the 60 men who are lost to suicide globally every 60 minutes. You can also join our gym challenge and be in with a chance of winning prizes, as well as the pride of hitting your 60km goal. Come and chat to our Ravelin Sports Centre gym team to find out more.
- Go along to an event - There are numerous events taking place across the campus.
- Talk, but really talk - To a friend, within your current friendship groups or at an organised group or to a health care professional.
- Think men’s health - Is a friend not responding to some of your texts? Know how to Spot the Signs.
Movember events
Move for Mental Health
This Movember, run or walk 60km in support of men's mental health. You don't need to grow a moustache to participate. Just start moving this Movember in remembrance of the 60 men lost to suicide every hour.
Sign up for Move for Mental Health
Be an Ally - Pop up stands
A big thank you to all the students who came over to speak to us during the ‘Be an Ally’ campaign. We had over 100 students sign the board to show their support – remember how to spot the signs and what to do.
Andy's Man Club is Open to all Male Students
A reminder that Andy’s Man Club is open to our male students every Monday. ANDYSMANCLUB are a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online. They want to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation.
The location is in Dennis Sciama between 7- 9pm every Monday (closed during bank holidays).
Male Mental Health Stories | Kieran
Self hatred was probably a big issue. I would skip meals, I would procrastinate a lot more, I would just wake up and not really want to do much and then to judge myself later in the day. It wasn't a case of skipping lectures but once I got back in, I wouldn't do a lot of reading, wouldn't do any work, just sort of sat.
This Movember male students share their experience at university struggling with their mental health.
My friends watched me go really, really downhill and all that. And one of my mates saved my life when I had attempted to end my life. I didn't actually reach out for support at the uni. it was my brother. he emailed and the uni put me in touch with Res Life and the Student Health Team and the Bereavement Centre, and I was quite dismissive of the support that the uni was providing. I was also quite dismissive. I was quite angry at my brother for emailing. I was a bit sulky, 'just a waste of f-ing time' and all that.
Some people, you know, respond to different supports in different ways. For example, I don't really think therapy does that much to help me. I know it helps one of my friends who is in contact with them and is doing him the world of good. If you go for two sessions, you're not really going to do much. But if you go for regular meetings, it's going to do a lot more.
I don't think within the external world, there's really a lack of awareness. It's with men themselves needing to get help. Like it's your own personal issues and though it may not feel like it, you've got friends, family, the uni care. There are people there who can help you and will help you. And just don't leave it too late like I nearly did.
Male Mental Health Stories | Thiery
I was really depressed. I had a lot of anxiety as well. COVID had just happened. It was mostly with me not going to class. Just not attending classes. The isolationist mentality ended up putting me in a situation where I was really, really depressed.
This Movember male students share their experiences at university struggling with their mental health.
I'm actually a really sociable person, so not being able to engage, I think really affected me. You know, when exam season comes up and you've not been attending classes, you do get shell shock. So I deferred my course because I think at the time I was just really, really afraid to sit exams knowing I would have failed.
I realised I had to change, I had to just pivot. And I couldn't keep on doing this because who's to say I would not have just deferred the law course again the next year. I got in touch with some people in support services here at the university. They signposted me to some amazing, amazing services and actually led me to take up a job as a student ambassador of the uni. I think the combination, the fact that it gave me a community really helped. I'm from Cameroon in West Africa, so culturally, especially amongst males, it's much harder for us to seek advice or seek help. There is a stigma because it's not really seen as a thing. For me, the steps I have taken till now have mostly been internalising and realising that this is an issue that I need to resolve.
You know, it could it could seem overwhelming. It seemed to me that there were too many steps to take to get out of the hole. I would advise you generally just to take the first step today. That could be reaching out to someone, looking up online just resources. My biggest advice would just be start something today. It doesn't have to be too big, but you know, every little step counts.