Why I Mo: João Francisco

My name is João Francisco, but you can call me Lima. I am in my 20’s, born and raised in Portugal, but I currently live in Dublin, working for a Big Tech. On top of this, I am a mental health ambassador.

My contact with Movember started as a sympathizer several years ago. I played rugby for quite a few years and there are plenty of happy memories of big bulky guys with funny moustaches.

Nevertheless, the reason why I am a mental health advocate is not as bright. As of June 2020, my father took his life as the result of a major depression. 22 years old at the time, I was hit by one of the toughest, but also inevitable events of anyone’s life: the death of my father figure.

From there, I became an active testimony on this topic. As an actual Mo Bro, my right of passage happened last year. I decided to run an average daily 7-km on a treadmill on livestream to fundraise, raise awareness, and allow my community to ask questions about mental health, my experience, and my advice. The result was amazing, and I
genuinely had a great time.

After the event, I quickly chose to go on a path of post-traumatic growth. I promptly started therapy and chose the path of honouring my dad, myself, all men and all people who struggle directly or indirectly from mental health challenges.

I have become a testimonial, a preacher of vulnerability, humanity, and ownership. I now share with people how I see, engage, and deal with grief, not as a way of getting rid of it, but to use it as a tool for enlightenment.How I see it, grief if as a match that lights up due to friction. It is fragile and frugal, but when lit it holds a flame. We have three options:

1. Let it burn all the way and burn our fingers
2. Throw it away and cause a wildfire
3. Look at the flame it holds and see its limitless potential.

I chose the third. To light up a candle. Luminous, warming, stable and long lasting. This will allow us to light up our way and serve as a lighthouse for those in the dark.

Currently I give talks, interviews, moderate discussions, and have inclusively written a book on the topic. Being a Mo Bro is my way of helping others as I was not able to help whom I’d have want to the most!

To those who may be suffering in silence, and feeling uncomprehended, my advice is: Don’t expect comprehension for your
circumstances, but for your feelings. No one will understand your pain, but everyone knows pain. Be brave, be vulnerable, be human, be a candle.