Movember in Schools

Movember's ‘happier, healthier, longer’ lesson pack has been granted a Quality Mark for PSHE education resources. The lesson pack is designed to increase students’ understanding of issues relating to men’s and boy's health — specifically exploring testicular cancer and mental health.

These free-to-download lessons encourage students to challenge preconceptions about men’s health, both physical and mental, while providing the skills to discuss sensitive issues and access health services when necessary.

Although focusing on men’s health, the lessons have been carefully designed to be inclusive for all students. Lessons aim to:

• Challenge misconceptions about men’s health and identify common issues
• Explain the importance of carrying out testicular self-examination
• Identify a range of strategies to support mental health and emotional wellbeing
• Provide factual health information on testicular cancer and guidance on self-examination
• Improve confidence to access health services and seek support when necessary

The health education aspect of PSHE will be mandatory from 2020 and schools will be expected to cover mental health, emotional wellbeing, cancer and self-examination, so these resources provide timely support to do so effectively. Though launched to coincide with Movember, they can be used at any time throughout the year.

PSHE Association Subject Specialist Jenny Fox says:

“We are pleased to award our Quality Mark to Movember’s lesson pack 'Happier, Healthier, Longer'. These carefully planned and easy to use lessons will support teachers to deliver important, and at times challenging, aspects of the PSHE curriculum. The lessons tackle both the stigma and misconceptions surrounding men’s mental health, and support students to take responsibility for maintaining and monitoring their own health. Although focusing on men’s health, the lessons have been carefully designed to be inclusive for all students. Activities throughout are engaging, empowering and promote critical thinking. The pack also contains ideas to help students apply their learning further, through fundraising and awareness raising whole school approaches.”