There are currently over 1000 Men’s Sheds across Australia, aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Aussie men.
Men’s sheds provide a safe, friendly and inclusive environment where men can meet and work on meaningful projects in the company of other men. This could include many activities from furniture making to restoring or repairing items to gardening. Some Men’s Sheds may hold health and wellbeing events and provide opportunities to learn new skills such as cooking or first aid.
Men typically don’t talk about their feelings and emotions and don’t take as much interest in their own health as women. They also often drink more, take more risks and are more likely to suffer from isolation, loneliness and depression. [for online version could link to previous article on this topic: https://www.yourhealth.net.au/articles/wellbeing/mental-health/dealing-with-depression/] Men’s Sheds help to address social isolation and improve men’s mental health by helping members to feel safe, make new friends and share in meaningful activities.
Aussie men join a Men’s Shed for a variety of reasons including:
to meet new friends
to give back to the community
to keep busy
to share their knowledge and expertise
to learn new skills
for their health
A 2013 study of Australian Men’s Shed members, funded by Beyond Blue and the Australian Men’s Shed Association, confirmed the mental and physical health benefits of joining a Men's Shed. While health benefits are not the primary motivator for most men joining a Men’s Shed, the study found that Shed members scored significantly higher physical functioning, physical roles, general health, vitality, and mental health than non-Shed members.
The health benefits of being a member of a Men’s Shed may come from organised health checks, health-related talks and provision of health information along with increased recognition of symptoms and peer advice. Men’s Shed members also have increased awareness of anxiety and depression, and they are more likely to seek help for these conditions.
Men’s Sheds can play an important role in addressing health and wellbeing and helping men to become valued and productive members of our community.
For more information:
Visit Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) website: https://mensshed.org/ or call 1300 550 009
Search for your nearest Men’s Shed: https://mensshed.org/find-a-shed/
Watch this short video: https://mensshed.org/what-is-a-mens-shed/30-second-video/
References:
https://mensshed.org/what-is-a-mens-shed/
https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/mens-sheds/about-mens-sheds
Beyond Blue 2013. Men’s Sheds in Australia: Effects on physical health and mental wellbeing. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/research-project-files/bw0208.pdf?sfvrsn=2
