Colm Fitzpatrick
Men’s Shed Steeple Antrim is open to men aged 50+. The men work on a variety of activities
including joinery, photography, art and IT. They have their own polytunnel where they grow a range of vegetables and plants and they even have their own clay pizza oven in the garden. Men’s Sheds provide a vital role is combating mental health issues, writes Colm Fitzpatrick
Typically, sheds have been understood to be small garden-based shacks which store tools or extra clutter, but a new type of shed taking Ireland by storm is also housing men. And their purpose? To gather for meaningful projects and tackle the male mental health crisis.
Originally founded in Australia, and then adopted in Ireland, Men’s Sheds provide an opportunity for men from all walks of life to have a cup of tea, befriend one another, and talk about common interests. In order to facilitate this vision, the Irish Men’s Shed Association was formed in January 2011, with a mission of supporting the development of the movement throughout the whole island.
According to co-ordinator of Bandon Men’s Shed in Cork, Tom McCleary, Men’s Sheds are vital in combating loneliness and providing a space for people to breathe and talk about what’s on their minds.
He explains that the sheds began in Australia because in small towns and villages if you didn’t want to go to a bar or pub, “you couldn’t really go anywhere” – so the sheds became a new place for communities to counter this. Once Ireland caught wind of it, they were established in different counties throughout the island.
“It started community-wide in 2011 and the Irish took to it like ducks to water. Every shed around the country is different. They all work on different schedules and what they do and what they don’t do. There are some that are actually more than sheds and there are some with two or three lads that have a cup of tea and can chat forever,” explains Tom.
He adds that other sheds, like those in Drogheda, are big industrial complexes with steel boardwalks, where men can carry out projects together.
Skills
“The average shed is usually a group of 20-30 men that meet two or three times a week; some people do skills like wood-working skills, we repair furniture for old people, and we make window boxes,” Tom says.
Importantly, the sheds provide a safe place where men can share their successes and problems, in a non-judgmental, constructive space as well as talk about their mental health. This is no trivial issue. According to a new survey carried out by iReach, almost half of Irish people do not think mental health is something that can be discussed about openly, and only 29% of people surveyed think there is enough help or support for people suffering.
Notably, men are not immune to these mental health issues, despite the strong exterior they so often display. In Ireland, men are five times more likely to die by suicide than women and many times present late to health services.
“Men don’t tend to share much with anyone else”, says Tom, and suggests that Men’s Sheds allow you to go out for a cup of tea or coffee and then talk to people roughly around your own age. The sheds also arrange courses for attendees with health groups and doctors about mental health. For those who may be shy about joining or want to keep their anonymity, Men’s Sheds don’t require your personal information, so you’re free to attend without this worry.
“Men with mental health [problems] tend not to go seeking advice and help until it’s nearly too late. And there are fella’s coming in now who might have mental health problems or depression problems and they don’t want to say – and we don’t particularly ask people ‘What’s you name?’”, says Tony.
“Here at Men’s Sheds we don’t have membership so you don’t pay a fee to join. It’s free. So, if you come in and say your name is Nick, unless you’re really asking for advice, nobody really asks for your second name. It doesn’t matter what you do.”
Signature
Since its establishment in 2011, the sheds have been developed across the whole country with their own unique signature. As a grassroots movement organisation, the association strongly believes in the autonomy of each individual shed, and strives for a future where all men have the opportunity to maintain and improve their well-being on their own terms within their own communities.
For Tony, the sheds aren’t just silos with no upward vision, but actually enable the attending men to better their own lives socially, mentally and even economically.
“We’ve had men as young as their mid-20s. You’ll notice the younger men who join us – I think that meeting with others is a wake-up call. They all seem to go out and get jobs then. As soon as you can say that you’re with the local Men’s Shed, people kind of go out of their way for you and are more helpful.”
Tony believes these sheds have changed people’s lives, taken them from the edge of despair and given them new hope and purpose. This has been particularly pertinent to men in Ireland, who as fathers or workers, faced serious financial, social and familial pressures after the economic crash in 2008.
“It’s a fantastic organisation, unbelievable. The number of people that we’ve had through our doors and said only for Men’s Sheds, they would’ve considered suicide. People who were in their homes for three or four years never left, and then we opened up and they started meeting other people and realised they were no different than anyone else,” Tony says, adding that we all have our own problems which must be faced.
“I think a lot of people’s lives, especially people who were pretty well off in 2006-2007, went bust. A lot of people lost their homes. Their wives and kids and families broke up and they didn’t know how to handle any of it.” Fathers facing this crisis turned to Men’s Sheds in 2011 to hear common voices and receive support.
Despite being a charity organisation, the association has managed to establish around 350 Men’s Sheds throughout the island. Recognising their important function, the Minister for Rural and Communal Development, Mr Michael Ring TD announced at the end of July a provision of €500,000 to support their ongoing work. He said: “In towns, villages and cities which I have visited as Minister, I am continually struck by the great work that local Men’s Sheds do in supporting important local initiatives. Among their ranks they have great expertise, experience and know-how and make a massive contribution to their local communities.
Barry Sheridan, CEO of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, welcomed the news, stating: “This announcement is the most significant development in the history of Men’s Sheds in Ireland, and we as an association are delighted to have played a role in bringing it about, via our consultations with Minister Ring’s Department. This level of support reflects the impact Sheds are making on communities throughout Ireland.
“It’s a tribute to the work of all our staff and volunteers, as well as to every single Men’s Shed member and supporter who has helped make our Sheds what they are today. Minister Ring’s support is opening a new chapter for Irish Sheds, and we look forward to working with the Department through a bright and sustainable future for Men’s Sheds in Ireland.”
With this new-found encouragement, the association hope they can provide better services to men across the island, and are making sure that any man, regardless of story, creed or background will be welcomed with open arms into their local group. In this way, the association can honourably live out their motto: men don’t talk face to face; they talk shoulder to shoulder.