Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing
There’s nothing quite like a mate date between best buds. It’s always good banter, and it gives you a chance to check in and actually provide support in ways only a mate can. In the spirit of that, and with Movember just around the corner, we took Jack and Isaac from Swag on the Beat out on a mate date so they can see their friendship in a whole new light.
Needless to say, it was a bloody laugh.
Paint brushes, easels — and dashing smocks at the ready, Jack and Isaac truly gave it their, uh, best effort when it came to capturing the essence of the other. Jack assured us that his painting was “not a possessed demon” and was supposed to be Isaac. Meanwhile, Isaac let us know that the… thing on his canvas “was meant to be a horse” but he instead pivoted to “a big ant.”
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Whatever gets those creative juices flowing, lads!
Of course, this mate date wasn’t just about channelling the boys’ inner artist. It was also just about catching up, and just being there for one another. We can’t stress how important that is for supporting men’s mental health.
Men are dying, on average, four years sooner than women, with suicide being the leading cause of death in men aged 15-54. And, as Jack puts it, having mates there as a support system is “essential.”
“Being able to have that relationship with your mates brings you closer together,” Isaac says.
“It feels like there are more blokes speaking out about mental health and the importance of checking in on your mates, which is obviously a great thing.”
This is essentially what Movember is all about — raising awareness and funds for not only men’s mental health, but men’s health in general, as men are dealing with prostate and testicular cancer at an increasing rate.
But, how can you get involved?? It’s easy — sign up now via Movember.com, and build out your Mo Space. Here, you can add why you’re fundraising and how you’re committing to doing so.
There’s two key ways you can commit to Movember this year. The first of which, obviously, is growing the best Mo you can (Isaac looks like he’s already got a head start).
Another way is to get Moving for Movember. Globally, 60 men die by suicide every hour in support of men’s mental health, so Movember is encouraging all who can to commit to walking or running 60kms throughout the month.
But the best part about Movember is that you don’t have to Mo it alone. You can do Movember with your mates too! Link up like Jack and Isaac did for their portraits, and gather a few friends and family who will Mo right alongside you. You can even form a fundraising team — choose a captain or take charge and start your own!
Now, you’ll have to watch the video to find out just how Jack and Isaac’s portraits turned out (spoiler: they include a guitar, an audition to a beloved interview programme involving painting and, of course, Moustaches).
Once you’ve done that, why not rally your mates at your next mate date and sign up to participate in Movember together? We’ll give one lucky Mo’er who signs up to Movember and sends through their Mo Space profile an extra $5,000 toward their fundraising goal, and we’ll send them and a mate on a mate date of their own. Head to the link here to find out more. T&C's apply.
Sign up now at Movember.com, get to building out your Mo Space and learn more about how you can be involved with Movember.
If this story has brought up issues for you, help is available via Lifeline at 13 11 14 and movember.com/findhelp.
Jackson Langford