AN elected member has spoken about the importance of men’s physical and mental health after growing a beard for Movember.

Councillor Andy Doig, an independent member for Johnstone North and the surrounding villages, put the razor and shaving foam to one side last month in a bid to bring attention to a subject close to his heart.

The politician took part in Movember, an annual event in the month of November involving the growing of facial hair to raise awareness of issues such as prostate and testicular cancer and suicide prevention.

As part of the movement, Councillor Doig made a donation to Men Matter Scotland, a charity that facilitates activities to support positive mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing among men.

He said: “I have been growing a beard to show solidarity with the annual Movember campaign and have made a donation to Men Matter Scotland, who raise awareness on prostate health checks, men’s mental health and promote the role of good physical health for men as well.

“The suicide rate amongst young men is very high, as is the prostate cancer rate amongst older men, so we need to act.

“These issues impact most families and around seven years ago, at the age of 55, I had an enlarged prostate and this year my 70-year-old brother had prostate cancer.

“Thankfully we both came through these challenges but many men do not, which is why we need an accurate national screening test for prostate cancer for all men over 50 years old.

“In my day job in addiction support, I also see a lot of men who are suffering from mental ill health, so it is great to see projects like the Men’s Shed movement, who are active in Johnstone and Lochwinnoch locally.

“But we need to do even more to promote a better life-work balance and to help men of all ages suffering from depression, stress, and anxiety.

“I think the annual Movember campaign is a great opportunity to create a more positive narrative around what men bring to society, so we can build robust networks that are solid and can help men meet the challenges of the 21st century.

“Charities like Men Matter Scotland help to do that and it is a pleasure to donate to their cause to encourage a stronger society all round.”