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Men’s Sheds and Mental Health in Rural Communities: Exploring the Benefits of a Community-Level Program

Authors :
Banack, Clark
Whitfield, Kyle Y.
Isley, Serena
Source :
Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health; February 2024, Vol. 42 Issue: 4 p1-20, 20p
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Rural regions across North America continue to suffer from a lack of community-level mental health supports. This exploratory study explores whether Men’s Sheds, bottom-up, community-driven groups designed to support retired and older men’s mental health by mimicking the social and collaborative aspects of “work-life” by creating opportunities to engage in project-based woodworking, metalworking or mechanics, are generating positive mental health outcomes for their members in rural communities in Alberta, Canada. Relying on a set of semi-structured interviews with participants across two rural Alberta Men’s Sheds, in addition to a sociodemographic and self-rating questionnaire, we demonstrate that the participants in these Sheds enjoy clear and significant mental health benefits by generating opportunities for camaraderie, a sense of purpose and a sense of inclusion. Although not an appropriate substitute for more formal mental health supports in certain situations, we conclude that supporting the formation of new Men’s Sheds throughout rural areas represents a worthwhile investment in the mental health of a group of vulnerable citizens.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
07133936 and 19297084
Volume :
42
Issue :
4
Database :
Supplemental Index
Journal :
Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Publication Type :
Periodical
Accession number :
ejs65532040
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2023-026