Movember offers $3.5 million for creative ideas to tackle men’s loneliness

MEN’S health charity Movember is issuing a $3.5M call out for innovative digital and tech ideas addressing the mental health challenges that stem from social isolation.

It’s called the Social Connections Challenge. Through crowdsourcing, the challenge aims to find and develop ideas for new digital or technology initiatives that maintain or strengthen social connections and address isolation in groups of at-risk men.

As many as 75 ideas across Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK will be shortlisted, with up to five Aussie projects selected for a co-development investment of between $100K-$250K.

Movember Global Director of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Brendan Maher, said strong social connections were a key protective factor for men against anxiety, depression and potentially suicide.

“It’s concerning that in the midst of this pandemic, Movember research tells us that 33 per cent of men admitted they felt lonely more often. 1

“We’ve been isolated from our usual support networks and coping mechanisms which can have a huge impact on mental health and wellbeing,” he said. “There is a critical need to ease the anxiety and strain resulting from being physically apart.”

The challenge will ensure funding is directed to the following priority groups, with a focus on those who are likely to be at greater risk of social isolation due to geographical location, socio-economic status, gender and/or cultural background, including:

• Older men who live alone
• Men who have experienced recent relationship breakdown/family separation
• Men undergoing treatment for prostate/testicular cancer who are experiencing social isolation
• Bereaved men experiencing loss and managing grief while socially isolated
• Men living with a mental health challenge who are at risk of substance misuse due to social isolation or who are in recovery
• Young men affected by education interruption or unemployment due to the economic downturn
• Men from culturally diverse backgrounds who are unemployed and/or socially isolated

 Maher said the original Social Innovator’s Challenge (launched back in 2015) received an overwhelming response – more than 426 submissions globally – with just 12 initiatives progressing through the first round of funding.

“In this COVID-19 year, the way we connect is evolving. We see Movember’s Social Connections Challenge as an opportunity to shake things up and leverage the amazing ways that people have been keeping men connected using technology.

“In addition to funding, being part of the Social Connections Challenge includes support and expertise from the Movember team in order to maximise potential and impact. We test, learn and find out exactly what works for men, so that the most promising programs can be scaled to reach more men, more quickly. Finding ideas that have been started in the community and are showing promise is a really exciting opportunity.” 

Submissions for the Social Connections Challenge open on August 17, closing on October 15. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of Movember. For more information, or to apply visit movember.com