International Men’s Day: When Is It Time to “Man Up”?

The 19^th of November, International Men’s Day, is a day dedicated to all the men in our lives – to acknowledge their accomplishments, their roles in our lives, and to celebrate what makes each man uniquely them.

As defined by International Men’s Day themselves,

“International Men’s Day encourages men to teach the boys in their lives the values, character and responsibilities of being a man. Mahatma Gandhi said, “We must become the change we seek.”  It is only when we all, both men and women, lead by example that we will create a fair and safe society which allows everyone the opportunity to prosper.”

All men celebrate International Men’s Day in their own way, and each will have their own interpretation of what it means to them. At Be Daring we see this as the time to create and engage in conversations around what it means to be a man today, and what we can do to enrich the lives of the men in our lives! This blog will look to raise awareness on key issues, such as: suicide, toxic masculinity, and prostate health.

Toxic Masculinity & Mental Health in Australian Men

According to Beyond Blue, on average at least one in eight men will experience depression, and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives. Not only that but men make up, on average, seven out of nine suicides – every single day in Australia.

Just like there’s pressure to be the “perfect woman”, there’s a general expectation on men to be the “perfect man” – the John Wayne-westernesque type, tough, emotionless, and masculine. Although it may not seem like these social pressures are that significant, it’s important to remember the number of men who die by suicide in Australia every year is nearly double the national road toll.

That then leads to the question: well, what can we do about it? The only way to change the trend, is to do away with the expectations we place on our men – away with the old and honestly unhelpful phrases such as, “suck it up” and “be a man” – lets change the conversation to something much more positive!

A few things you can do, regardless of gender:

• Join the discussion! Create openings and a safe space for men to share their experiences and feelings, especially if you sense there's a problem.

• Encourage the men in our lives, whether it’s your dad or your mate, to speak up. Sometimes this might even mean you initiate the conversation.
• Encourage men to demonstrate nurturing, compassion, and caring behavior toward themselves and others
• Embrace self-expression and let the real you shine.
• Call out other men/people who engage in behaviours that are aggressive or inappropriate.

If you know a bloke who’s struggling, but you’re not quite sure on how to help them out then please refer to:
Have the conversation - Beyond Blue

Prostate Health in Australian Men

Operating as a sexual wellness store as well, prostate health is a mission that is close to us! The prostate (sometimes called the P-spot) is a gland and reproductive organ that surrounds the neck of the bladder for biological males. The main responsibility of the prostate gland is to secrete prostate fluid, which is one of the key components of semen. Kind of a big deal, right? Not only that, but the muscles of the prostate gland also help propel seminal fluid into the urethra during ejaculation.

We know that talking about your prostate can be a little uncomfortable, however it is a large component of what makes up a man’s sexual, physical, and mental, wellbeing – so be sure to check in with your health practitioner for a prostate examif it’s something you haven’t done yet.

For men in Australia, the most common prostate conditions men experience include:

• Enlarged Prostate
• Prostatitis
• Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men. In Australia, prostate cancer kills more men than breast cancer kills women, so it’s really important for men to be aware of what it is, what the symptoms are, and what tests are available to assess their prostate health.

Further details can be found at:
Everything you need to know about your prostate | Queensland Health

Now to follow up on a more positive note! Prostate massage is believed to aid in clearing the prostatic duct, as massaging the gland can produce a spontaneous secretion of fluid, clearing any excess that may be causing issues or cause future issues. The use of prostate massage therapy is supported for a range of conditions, and may provide more relief for:

• Painful ejaculation
• Erectile disfunction
• Irregular urine flow
• Prostatitis

For more information on the benefits of prostate massaging, please refer to our blog:
Anal Play – The Art of Prostate Massaging

Movember Australia

For those of you who do not know about Movember, men grow their Mo’s for the duration of November, raising awareness of Men’s prostate and testicular cancer as well as mental health!

Not only is there millions of walking billboards to raise awareness, but each gentleman registered is also raising funds for the global fundraising company Movember, whose vision is to have an ever-lasting effect on Men’s health. So, expect to see some pencil, handle bar, english, chevron and cowboy styled Mo’s or one of many different combination styles of moustaches over the next month!

To read more about Movember, or to see how you can donate, please visit: 

Movember - About Us - Our Story

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, International Mens Day is rich and full of so many different stories and experiences from so many people from different walks of life. We hope this brings some awareness to the key issues that men face, and that we can only get past them by working as a collective!

Should you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact our friendly professionals on 1800 571 904

So, let’s celebrate this International Mens Day together!