The Mental Health Benefits Of Men’s Sheds In Rural Alberta
Men’s Sheds are a bottom-up, community-driven approach, designed to support retired and older men’s mental health. These Sheds consist of communal spaces where men can regularly meet to socialize and work on projects “shoulder-to-shoulder” such as woodworking, metalworking, cooking, bike repairs and other projects. By creating an environment when men can engage
and work with one another in an informal, open, and forgiving atmosphere, and with a community-related purpose, Men’s Sheds are meant to promote social inclusion, camaraderie, purpose, and ultimately, as it is often quipped in the Men’s Shed world, “health by stealth.” This study was designed to evaluate the impacts and effectiveness of two Men’s Sheds in rural Alberta, with an overarching interest in whether Men’s Sheds represent an effective, community-based form of support for participants that rural municipalities ought to be supporting.
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By
Clark Banack, Kyle Whitfield, Serena Isley
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Published
Oct 25, 2023
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Subject Area
- Social Connectedness / Social Isolation
- Rural and Remote Communities
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Audience
- Government (Politicians, Policy Makers) and Health Authorities
- Service Providers (Non-profits, Community Organizations, Local government)
- Academics
- Caregivers, Seniors & Volunteers
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Category
- Research & Evidence
- Research & Reports