Movember and Huskies highlight the importance of social connections and conversation

To raise awareness around mental health, Movember teamed up with Huskies and a host of Ireland’s cultural and creative pioneers to highlight the importance of staying connected through the campaign the ‘Conversation piece’ – in which a series of light installations will be projected onto landmarks across Dublin over the coming weeks.

Movember, the global organisation committed to changing the face of men’s health, recently conducted research that reveals that one in three (30%) men said they feel lonely more often compared with before COVID-19, with eight out of 10 (84%) men find it helpful when people ask if they’re having a difficult time. Yet nearly half (45%) say no one has checked to find out how they are coping.

The ‘Conversation Piece’ campaign was launched with ‘Together We Stand’ created by Huskies and projected onto the iconic Poolbeg Chimneys, a famous landmark which dominates the skyline of Ireland’s capital. The idea behind this campaign was to further highlight the message ‘Together we stand’ by projecting it on the emblematic chimneys, which have survived a demolition and are over 50 years old.

‘Together we stand’  will be followed with a series of collaborations with artists and designers such as Sebastian Barry, Vivienne Roche, Gavin Friday, Domino Whisker, Aches, Mundy and Tiny Ark and many more to raise awareness around the importance of social connection and encourage meaningful conversation. Huskies will be doing a few other projections for the ‘Conversation Piece’ campaign along with the artists.

Neil Rooney, Global Innovations Manager/Country Support Ireland, said:

“These findings demonstrate that men are hungry for connection and in need of support in these trying times. We know that men can often feel uncomfortable or awkward discussing their mental health. Through our collaboration with Huskies, we are encouraging people to check in on their loved ones and come together through meaningful conversation.

A conversation can make all the difference. We can’t assume that people are grand, don’t want to be hassled or don’t want to talk. There’s never been a more important time to reach out to your friends.”

Jonathan Forrest, CEO of Huskies, added:

“According to the Royal Society of Medicine, visual art has ‘positive effects’ on health outcomes. Collaborating with Movember has enabled us to harness the healing effect of art to create visually impactful content that has the potential to bring people together and help improve their mental and physical health.”

Huskies Creative Director, Damian Hanley explains why they chose the landmark Chimneys to launch Movember’s ‘Conversation Piece’ campaign:

“The Poolbeg Chimneys have stood together for the last 50 years, even surviving a planned demolition due to the affection that Dubliners have for them.  They were the perfect canvas to launch this message of sticking together. It has been amazing to collaborate with such a wide team who have given their time and creativity to help make this happen, thanks to Neil MacDougald, Tiny Ark and Creative Technology.”

The aim of the initiative is to create an intervention point where mental health issues can be addressed and support can be provided to those adversely affected.

Movember is the leading global men’s health charity. The charity raises funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programs that enable men to live happier, healthier and longer lives. Committed to disrupting the status quo, millions have joined the movement, helping fund over 1,250 projects focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide prevention.

In addition to tackling key health issues faced by men, Movember is working to encourage men to stay healthy in all areas of their life, with a focus on men staying socially connected and becoming more open to discussing their health and significant moments in their lives. The charity’s vision is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health.

In the Company of Huskies is a leading creative and strategic advertising agency headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Huskies clients include Allianz, Smurfit Kappa, Nissan Ireland, Failte Ireland, Kerrygold, The Guinness Storehouse, Slane Whiskey, Jose Cuervo, Saint Vincent De Paul, Londis, Aliv and the Cablebahamas group among others. They are a multi-award-winning agency and 2018 ADFX Grand Prix winners.