Tasmania’s Men’s Sheds network helping to fight loneliness pandemic

Tasmania’s booming network of men’s sheds are helping blokes look after their physical and mental health. HOW >

Minister for Community Services and Development Nic Street and Howrah Men’s Shed’s secretary Greg Ryan at Howrah Men’s Shed on Thursday, June 15, 2023.

Tasmania’s booming network of Men’s Sheds play a critical role in reducing the health impacts of social isolation, Minister for Community Services and Development Nic Street says.

Speaking at the Southern Sheds Gathering as part of Men’s Health Week event in Howrah on Thursday, Mr Street said having no mates, or loneliness, was known to have a health impact as serious as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

The state government set aside $350,000 for the Mens’ Sheds around Tasmania in the state budget.

“We know that socialising, getting together is really important for everyone’s mental health, but particularly for men’s mental health,” Mr Street said.

We know that isolation during Covid but also before that as well the detrimental effects that was having on men’s health.

“So the ability of Men’s Sheds to bring people together is really important.”

Mr Street said the men’s shed movement was particularly successful in Tasmania.

“I am proud to say that Tasmania now has the highest density of Men’s Sheds per capita in Australia, with more than 10 sheds per 100,000 people,” her noted.

“Continuing to build a strong economy gives this Government the ability to provide other important supports for the Tasmanian community.

“In February 2023, the Rockliff Liberal Government committed to extending peak body funding for the Tasmanian Men’s Shed Association until 2025-26.

Howrah Men’s Shed secretary Greg Ryan said the sheds were particularly important for men who had left the workforce to expand their social networks.

“Men’s Health Week is a particularly good time to highlight the value of these sheds, so that the wider community really understand that there may be lonely men that could come along and get a lot of value out of them,” he said.

“When you leave the workforce and you leave weekday friendships … it’s particularly important to find a Men’s Shed, and then create new contacts and share skills, learn things, and it gives you some value.