Elliot Maginot and Movember: For gentlemen’s mental health

Dear gentlemen, some of you may have decided to take up the challenge of participating in the “Movember” movement, which involves growing a moustache while raising funds for a charity specializing in improving men’s health. Indeed, the latter, founded in 2003, has rapidly become the world’s largest charity dedicated to the fight against prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. This phenomenon became commonplace among men when November arrived. For 2024, singer Elliot Maginot and Movember are teaming up to get the word out even more about the cause.

Elliot Maginot and Movember: Talking men’s health to a new generation

It was with a freshly grown moustache that I met Elliot Maginot (real name Gabriel Hélie-Harvey), Movember’s new ambassador for 2024. 

Normand Boulanger: Why did you want to get involved with Movember?

Elliot Maginot: For my part, although the organization raises funds for prostate and testicular cancer, it’s also for mental health disorders and suicide prevention that I wanted to get involved. These problems affect me a lot, as well as those around me, the environment in which I work and so on. 

N.B. With the death of Karl Tremblay (lead singer of the Québec-based group Les Cowboys Fringants) from prostate cancer at the age of 47, I imagine that Movember will affect people in your milieu even more, and that’s why Elliot Maginot is associated with Movember?

E.M. Yes, that’s a good point. Karl Tremblay’s death is really a reminder that this cancer can have serious consequences and still kill many men. The way to save more males is to invest massively in prevention and research, and to get the word out. 

N.B. It’s really a nice surprise to see you involved in this cause; Elliot Maginot and Movember are a natural fit. I remember one of your concerts a few years ago at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal where you drew a big crowd, despite the small stage and the hour of the show. How do you get the message across to your loyal community?

E.M. There aren’t 36,000 ways to do it, and since I’m not an expert on men’s health and I don’t have any medical training, the thing I can do as an individual and as an artist, as a family member, as a friend, is to circulate information and always be on the lookout for what’s going on in terms of male cancers and mental health. It’s also important for everyone to learn how to develop techniques and tools to manage their own problems, or to learn how to detect warning signs in those around them. There are so many things we can do every day on a small scale, always with an eye on others. And society, for its part, must continue to invest in infrastructure, to invest in solving social problems, because these are going to become factors that cause serious mental health crises. 

N.B. And what do you think of the current situation in Québec?

E.M. It’s always tricky, because you don’t want to fall into comparisons, but no matter what society or where you live, the goal is always to arrive at a situation where suicide and homelessness are eliminated. Although we say that access to health care, including mental health care, is easy in Québec, this is absolutely not the case—we only have to look at what’s happening on our streets in Montréal and the regions to see that. Unfortunately, we seem to be getting used to this new normal. I have the impression that, if this had happened 10 years ago, we would have reacted strongly and collectively said: “We need to mobilize, and quickly.” Governments need to listen to what’s going on and what citizens are saying. 

N.B. Despite these more sombre situations, is there anything positive in all this?        

E.M. Yes, we’ve noticed that men are much more concerned about their mental health than they used to be. Whether it’s on social networks, in my circle of friends or in the music world, we’re noticing it more and more. What’s more, in my industry, people are more and more serious about taking care of themselves, going out less—in short, they’re taking care of their physical and mental health. There really is a paradigm shift among artists.    

Advice for the new generation of gentlemen

N.B. Do you have any advice for your audience? For the new generation of men that Elliot Maginot and Movember can reach?

E.M. It’s funny, because all the women around me who’ve needed therapy have gone for help without hesitation, whereas us men (and I include myself in that) haven’t. It’s important not to hesitate. Don’t hesitate to talk to each other, other than in anger or jokes, naming things that are really as insignificant as they may seem. Don’t be afraid to disturb because these little drops eventually form a torrent that becomes impossible to overcome later on and can be fatal. There’s no problem too small or too big to tackle.

What’s more, we often underestimate our friends’/people’s interest in hearing what we have to say. There’s nothing more pleasant when a friend tells me how they feel. I see it as a great sign of trust and intimacy. You shouldn’t be afraid to open up to others. After that, we can make jokes. Naming things and saying, “I love you” never hurt anyone. Sometimes we say it under the influence of drink, but say it on an empty stomach, in person or by text, it feels good.

Elliot Maginot and Movember: Talking about it

N.B Also, one thing I can see in an older generation is to say that you’re in pain somewhere during a doctor’s visit; it can sometimes seem harmless, but it’s by no means the case (yes, I know doctor’s appointments are often only for one ailment, but make the most of it during your visit).     

E.M. It’s true. I work in an environment where almost all of us are self-employed, and sometimes we hesitate to consult health professionals. I myself didn’t see a dentist in my early adult life, and now I’m paying dearly for it. Unfortunately, you can’t just shovel problems forward indefinitely. If you start with a good diet, exercise and water, you should be fine.       

Thanks for everything Elliot

Elliot Maginot and Movember: Find out more

After reading this interview, if you’d like to get in on the action with Elliot Maginot and Movember, it’s on this link. If you’re already a donor and you’re looking for tips for a great moustache, we’ve got some moustache tips in this article. 

To find out more about Elliot Maginot’s upcoming show dates, click here.