The Contingency Planning Unit is proud to support Movember as part of Mental Health Month, recognising the vital importance of improving awareness, reducing stigma & promoting early intervention around men’s mental health. Movember encourages conversations that can quite literally save lives, highlighting issues such as depression, suicide prevention & overall wellbeing.
For many within our team, this cause is deeply personal. I think a number of us across the service have experienced the negative impacts of mental health challenges, either directly or through supporting others, & we are committed to using our experiences to raise awareness and help foster a culture where people feel safe to speak up & seek support.
Throughout November, members of the CPU team will be taking on the challenge of growing moustaches to show solidarity & raise both awareness & funds for this important cause. While the moustaches may spark a few laughs, the message behind them is serious: promoting open conversations, encouraging early support, & standing together against the stigma that often surrounds men’s mental health.
By getting involved, the team aims to champion the values of inclusion, wellbeing, & support across GMFRS, reinforcing our commitment to positive mental health within the Service and the wider community.
Tom Weate, Manager of Contingency Planning Unit
“I myself have experienced challenges with my own mental health and, unfortunately, I have lost good friends which includes my brother, very early in my career to suicide. These experiences stay with you, and they reinforce why conversations around mental health are so important.
We need to break down the boundaries that we build up as a defence mechanism. Those barriers might feel like protection in the moment, but they can prevent us from reaching out when we need help the most. By supporting Movember, I hope we can encourage people to talk, to listen, and to look out for one another because none of us should face these challenges alone.
Although raising awareness is our primary goal, any charitable donations to support Movember’s vital work would be greatly welcomed and will go directly to causes that make a real difference to men’s mental health and suicide prevention.”
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