Growing Wellness from the Inside Out: Movember and Men’s Mental Health

Growing Wellness from the Inside Out

Every day, millions of men wake up carrying invisible weight — stress, anxiety, burnout, and the quiet pressure to stay strong.

“You don’t have to be a hero today. You just have to be honest.” — Kevin Love, NBA Champion & Mental Health Advocate

In the U.S. alone, one in ten men experiences depression or anxiety, yet fewer than half ever seek help. This November, as part of Movember — the global movement that uses mustaches to spark conversations about men’s health — we’re reminded that strength isn’t measured by how much we endure, but by our willingness to care for what’s growing inside us.

For generations, men were encouraged to stay silent about mental health — as if vulnerability and strength couldn’t coexist. But that story is finally beginning to change. Across workplaces, locker rooms, and living rooms, more men are finding the courage to speak up, seek help, and redefine what it means to be strong.

The Numbers Tell the Story

Even with progress, the statistics remain sobering:

• Nearly 1 in 10 men experience depression or anxiety, but less than half receive treatment. (Anxiety & Depression Association of America)
  
• Men die by suicide at a rate four times higher than women in the U.S. (Indiana University School of Medicine)
  
• Only 40% of men with a mental illness receive care each year, compared with 52% of women. (Association of American Medical Colleges)
  
• Among men aged 18–44 who report daily anxiety or depression, only 41% have spoken with a mental-health professional. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  

These numbers don’t represent weakness — they represent the cost of silence.

“Healing begins when we allow ourselves to be seen.” — Prince Harry, Founder of Invictus Games & Mental Health Advocates

Movember: Growing a Global Movement

Founded in Australia in 2003, Movember began with a few friends and a simple idea — grow a mustache to raise awareness for men’s health. What started as a lighthearted challenge has evolved into a global campaign advocating for mental health, suicide prevention, and prostate and testicular cancer awareness.

To date, Movember has funded over 1,200 men’s health projects worldwide. More importantly, it’s made conversations about emotional well-being something men can have — proudly, publicly, and without stigma.

---

A New Definition of Strength

“We all have struggles, and I think it’s important for people to know that. It’s okay not to be okay.” — Dak Prescott

Thankfully, the conversation is changing — led by men who are using their voices and visibility to normalize mental-health care.

Kevin Love, NBA champion and mental-health advocate, made headlines when he spoke publicly about his panic attacks and therapy journey. His openness helped countless others take their first step toward healing.

DeMar DeRozan shared his experience with depression, inspiring teammates and fans alike. Dak Prescott, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, spoke openly about grief and depression following his brother’s death by suicide.

Their courage reminds us that vulnerability doesn’t weaken strength — it deepens it.

In a recent Gallup survey, more than 60% of men under 35 said that conversations about mental health are “a sign of growth, not weakness.” That’s the shift worth celebrating.

---

Gardening as a Gateway to Wellness

At Gardenuity, we’ve seen firsthand how simple, grounding rituals — planting something living, caring for it, watching it grow — can quiet the mind and open the heart.

Over the past two years, we’ve been privileged to work alongside intuitive HR and wellness thought leaders who are bringing new tools to their teams to support mental health. Together, we’ve introduced the restorative power of gardening to workplaces across the country — helping people reconnect with nature, themselves, and each other.

As a woman leading many of these conversations and workshops with men, I’ve found that when I share personal stories — about my dad and the men who’ve shaped my life — something powerful happens. It connects. It reminds everyone in the room that mental wellness isn’t a gendered issue; it’s a human one.

Gardening has become a tool for modern leaders — a way to model empathy, mindfulness, and presence in a world that often rewards speed over stillness. The act of placing your hands in soil releases serotonin and oxytocin, hormones that calm the nervous system and restore perspective.

For men, it offers a tangible sense of progress and the quiet satisfaction of nurturing something that depends on you — without words, judgment, or performance.

It’s leadership in its purest form: grounded, intentional, and growth-minded.

Five Ways to Grow Inner Strength This Movember

1. Start small. Grow a desktop garden or microgreens kit. Growth in any form builds momentum.
   
2. Talk about it. Check in on your mental health the same way you do your workouts or nutrition.
   
3. Take five. Spend five minutes each day watering, breathing, or simply being still.
   
4. Connect. Invite a friend or colleague to share the experience — gardening, walking, or simply talking.
   

Ask for help. The bravest act is often saying, “I need support.”

A Culture That’s Growing Healthier

Every conversation, every act of vulnerability, every story shared moves us closer to a world where men feel seen, supported, and safe to grow.

Because true strength isn’t about holding it together — it’s about letting yourself unfold.

This Movember, let’s grow a little space for empathy, presence, and the kind of courage that starts from the inside out.

“I’m not okay — but I’m growing.”