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Home / New Zealand

Movember launches 'Happy Hour' - for bonding not beers

NZ Herald
21 Nov, 2019 03:12 AM4 mins to read

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Workplaces around New Zealand have been asked to give their workers time off - for Happy Hour.

But it's not to spend time at the pub.

Rob Dunne from the Movember Foundation has penned an open letter to businesses nationwide asking them relax office hours during November to support men's
mental health.

"We're asking you, during November, to relax your official working hours," the Movember Foundation NZ Country Manager wrote.

"Let your staff down-tools a little bit early and do something positive for our collective good."

The charity, which sees thousands of men grow a moustache in November for men's health is focusing on mental health this year.

Dunne wanted workers to use their "Happy Hour" to pick up the phone, drop someone a text or "do anything to facilitate meaningful conversations."

"Not just because it's nice, but because strong personal connections have a huge part to play in the fight against depression."

"Our Happy Hour will take place every day from 5pm to 6pm and will encourage everyone, particularly men, to reach out to friends and family."

Dunne said businesses could donate as many "Happy Hours" to their staff as they could afford in the month of November.

"Some might let staff finish an hour earlier each day or just once a week for the month," he told YUDU.

"They might arrange something at work for them or they might encourage them to get away from work."

Large employers Spark and Lion Nathan had already signed up.

This year the men's health charity has the bold goal to reduce suicide in men by 25 percent.

New Zeland's suicide statistics are among the worst in the world.

According to the Chief Coroner's Report released at the end of last year, in 2018, 668 New Zealanders took their lives.

475 of these were men.

On average last year, more than one Kiwi male took his own life each day.

Dunne acknowleged the sad statistics but said but said in the past few years there had been a big shift in the desire to talk about depression and mental health.

Especially in the workplace.

"Some businesses are really pro-active and do a lot for mental health," Dunne said.

"A few years ago it was really hard to have these conversations and now people are a lot more open."

Dunne said initiatives like Radio Hauraki's 'No Talk Day' in association with the Movember Foundation were encouraging.

The station, with a high proportion of male staff and listeners, removed all advertising, announcers, traffic, weather and news for a day to create space for listeners to talk.

At NZME Mo-Bros and Mo-Sisters are equally involved with those unable to grow-a-mo either fundraising or hosting events.

Tim Wilson at NZME had rebranded to NZ-MO for Movember. He was aiming to get a team of 40 together with the goal of raising $20,000.

"Men's mental health is a huge issue in New Zealand and we all need to learn to talk more," Wilson said.

"Movember is great because it gives people a talking point, breaks down some barriers and the nods of approval on the street about your moustache are great too."

Wilson's 'Mo-Sister' at NZME Amy-Lee Wickcliffe was part of the Mo-Maids and said there was a lot people could do - even if they couldn't grow-a-mo.

Wickcliffe joined the cause three years ago, two years after losing her dad to cancer. This year she is fundraising to improve men's mental health.

"We want to encourage men to take the time and talk about what they're going through," Wickcliffe said.

"You're not less of a man just because you're having a tough time and need to talk it out."

To find out what your workplace is doing for Movember just ask - or search here to get involved https://nz.movember.com/

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